Uncoupling protein 2 from carp and zebrafish, ectothermic vertebrates.

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is of demonstrated importance in mammalian thermogenesis, and early hypotheses regarding the functions of the newly discovered UCP homologues, UCP2, UCP3 and others, have focused largely on their potential roles in thermogenesis. Here we report the amino acid sequences of two new UCPs from ectothermic vertebrates. UCPs from two fish species, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and carp (Cyprinus carpio), were identified in expressed sequence tag databases at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. cDNAs from a C. carpio 'peritoneal exudate cell' cDNA library and from a D. rerio 'day 0 fin regeneration' cDNA library were obtained and fully sequenced. Each cDNA encodes a 310 amino acid protein with an average 82% sequence identity to mammalian UCP2s. The fish UCP2s are about 70% identical to mammalian UCP3s, and 60% identical to mammalian UCP1s. Carp and zebrafish are ectotherms--they do not raise their body temperatures above ambient by producing excess heat. The presence of UCP2 in these fish thus suggests the protein may have function(s) not related to thermogenesis.