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An uncoupling protein homologue putatively involved in facultative muscle thermogenesis in birds
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2001
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NutritionMuscle FunctionCytoskeletonCellular PhysiologySkeletal MuscleProtein FoldingUncoupling ProteinUncoupling Protein HomologueHealth SciencesAnimal PhysiologyProtein FunctionMolecular PhysiologyPlant UcpMorphogenesisEndocrinologyBiologyEnergy MetabolismDevelopmental BiologyAnimal SciencePhysiologyFacultative Muscle ThermogenesisMetabolismMedicineComparative Physiology
The cDNA of an uncoupling protein (UCP) homologue was obtained by screening a chicken skeletal-muscle library. The predicted 307-amino-acid sequence of avian UCP (avUCP) is 55, 70, 70 and 46% identical with mammalian UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3 and plant UCP respectively. avUCP mRNA expression is restricted to skeletal muscle and its abundance was increased 1.3-fold in a chicken line showing diet-induced thermogenesis, and 3.6- and 2.6-fold in cold-acclimated and glucagon-treated ducklings developing muscle non-shivering thermogenesis respectively. The present data support the implication of avUCP in avian energy expenditure.