Genomic structure and expression of uncoupling protein 2 genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

doi:10.1186/1471-2164-7-203

BMC Genomics

Volume 7

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Coulibaly I
Gahr SA
Palti Y
Yao J
Rexroad CE

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Research article

Genomic structure and expression of uncoupling protein 2 genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Issa Coulibaly¹^,2 , Scott A Gahr² , Yniv Palti² , Jianbo Yao¹ and Caird E Rexroad III²

¹West Virginia University, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Division, Po Box 6108, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA

²National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, USDA-ARS, Leetown, WV 25430, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Genomics 2006, 7:203doi:10.1186/1471-2164-7-203


Published:	9 August 2006

Abstract

Background

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) belongs to the superfamily of mitochondrial anion carriers that dissociate the respiratory chain from ATP synthesis. It has been determined that UCP2 plays a role in several physiological processes such as energy expenditure, body weight control and fatty acid metabolism in several vertebrate species. We report the first characterization of UCP2s in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Results

Two UCP2 genes were identified in the rainbow trout genome, UCP2A and UCP2B. These genes are 93% similar in their predicted amino acid sequences and display the same genomic structure as other vertebrates (8 exons and 7 introns) spanning 4.2 kb and 3.2 kb, respectively. UCP2A and UCP2B were widely expressed in all tissues of the study with a predominant level in macrophage-rich tissues and reproductive organs. In fry muscle we observed an increase in UCP2B expression in response to fasting and a decrease after refeeding in agreement with previous studies in human, mouse, rat, and marsupials. The converse expression pattern was observed for UCP2A mRNA which decreased during fasting, suggesting different metabolic roles for UCP2A and UCP2B in rainbow trout muscle. Phylogenetic analysis including other genes from the UCP core family located rainbow trout UCP2A and UCP2B with their orthologs and suggested an early divergence of vertebrate UCPs from a common ancestor gene.

Conclusion

We characterized two UCP2 genes in rainbow trout with similar genomic structures, amino acid sequences and distribution profiles. These genes appeared to be differentially regulated in response to fasting and refeeding in fry muscle. The genomic organization and phylogeny analysis support the hypothesis of a common ancestry between the vertebrate UCPs.