We hypothesize that fatty acid-induced uncoupling serves in bioenergetic systems to set the optimum efficiency and tune the degree of coupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Uncoupling results from fatty acid cycling, enabled by several phylogenetically specialized proteins and, to a lesser extent, by other mitochondrial carriers. It is suggested that the regulated uncoupling in mammalian mitochondria is provided by uncoupling proteins UCP-1, UCP-2 and UCP-3, whereas in plant mitochondria by PUMP and StUCP, all belonging to the gene family of mitochondrial carriers. UCP-1, and hypothetically UCP-3, serve mostly to provide nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, respectively. Fatty acid cycling was documented for UCP-1, PUMP and ADP/ATP carrier, and is predicted also for UCP-2 and UCP-3. UCP-1 mediates a purine nucleotide-sensitive uniport of monovalent unipolar anions, including anionic fatty acids. The return of protonated fatty acid leads to H+ uniport and uncoupling. UCP-2 is probably involved in the regulation of body weight and energy balance, in fever, and defense against generation of reactive oxygen species. PUMP has been discovered in potato tubers and immunologically detected in fruits and corn, whereas StUCP has been cloned and sequenced froma a potato gene library. PUMP is supposed to act in the termination of synthetic processes in mature fruits and during the climacteric respiratory rise.

Aims: Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic b cells was expected to enhance mitochondrial superoxide formation. Hence, we elucidated relevant redox equilibria. Results: Unexpectedly, INS-1E cells at transitions from 3 (11 mM; pancreatic islets from 5 mM) to 25 mM glucose decreased matrix superoxide release rates (MitoSOX Red monitoring validated by MitoB) and H 2 O 2 (mitoHyPer, subtracting mitoSypHer emission). Novel double-channel fluorescence lifetime imaging, approximating free mitochondrial matrix NADH F, indicated its *20% decrease. Matrix NAD + F increased on GSIS, indicated by the FAD-emission lifetime decrease, reflecting higher quenching of FAD by NAD + F. The participation of pyruvate/malate and pyruvate/citrate redox shuttles, elevating cytosolic NADPH F (iNAP1 fluorescence monitoring) at the expense of matrix NADH F , was indicated, using citrate (2-oxoglutarate) carrier inhibitors and cytosolic malic enzyme silencing: All changes vanished on these manipulations. 13 Cincorporation from 13 C-L-glutamine into 13 C-citrate reflected the pyruvate/isocitrate shuttle. Matrix NADPH F (iNAP3 monitored) decreased. With decreasing glucose, the suppressor of Complex III site Q electron leak (S3QEL) suppressor caused a higher Complex I I F site contribution, but a lower superoxide fraction ascribed to the Complex III site III Qo. Thus, the diminished matrix NADH F /NAD + F decreased Complex I flavin site I F superoxide formation on GSIS. Innovation: Mutually validated methods showed decreasing superoxide release into the mitochondrial matrix in pancreatic b cells on GSIS, due to the decreasing matrix NADH F /NAD + F (NADPH F /NADP + F) at increasing cytosolic NADPH F levels. The developed innovative methods enable real-time NADH/NAD + and NADPH/ NADP + monitoring in any distinct cell compartment. Conclusion: The export of reducing equivalents from mitochondria adjusts lower mitochondrial superoxide production on GSIS, but it does not prevent oxidative stress in pancreatic b cells. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 33, 789-815.

No abstract