BMCP1, a Novel Mitochondrial Carrier with High Expression in the Central Nervous System of Humans and Rodents, and Respiration Uncoupling Activity in Recombinant Yeast

• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.273.51.34611
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T15:02:28Z
• Authors: Daniel Sanchis; Christophe Fleury; Nathalie Chomiki; Marc Goubern; Quinling Huang; Maria Neverova; Francine Grégoire; Juliet Easlick; Serge Raimbault; Corinne Lévi-Meyr...; Bruno Miroux; Sheila Collins; Michael Seldin; Denis Richard; Craig Warden; Frédéric Bouillaud; Daniel Ricquier
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; oxoglutarate; respiration cellulaire; Molecular Sequence Data; Mice, Inbred Strains; Nerve Tissue Proteins; souris; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; Membrane Potentials; Mitochondrial Proteins; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Humans; SEQUENCE D'ACIDE AMINE;SPHEROBLASTE;LOCALISATION DE GENE; Amino Acid Sequence; levure; In Situ Hybridization; Brain; Chromosome Mapping; Membrane Transport Proteins; Intracellular Membranes; mus musculus; homme; Mitochondria; 3. Good health; système nerveux central; mitochondrie; protéine; cerveau; Female; Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins; Carrier Proteins; expression des gènes

We report here the cloning and functional analysis of a novel homologue of the mitochondrial carriers predominantly expressed in the central nervous system and referred to as BMCP1 (brain mitochondrial carrier protein-1). The predicted amino acid sequence of this novel mitochondrial carrier indicates a level of identity of 39, 31, or 30%, toward the mitochondrial oxoglutarate carrier, phosphate carrier, or adenine nucleotide translocator, respectively, and a level of identity of 34, 38, or 39% with the mitochondrial uncoupling proteins UCP1, UCP2, or UCP3, respectively. Northern analysis of mouse, rat, or human tissues demonstrated that mRNA of this novel gene is mainly expressed in brain, although it is 10-30-fold less expressed in other tissues. In situ hybridization analysis of brain showed it is particularly abundant in cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and hypothalamus. Chromosomal mapping indicates that BMCP1 is located on chromosome X of mice and at Xq24 in man. Expression of the protein in yeast strongly impaired growth rate. Analysis of respiration of total recombinant yeast or yeast spheroplasts and in particular of the relationship between respiratory rate and membrane potential of yeast spheroplasts revealed a marked uncoupling activity of respiration, suggesting that although BMCP1 sequence is more distant from the uncoupling proteins (UCPs), this protein could be a fourth member of the UCP family.