Sci. Aging Knowl. Environ., 9 January 2002 Bouncer at the Energy
Bar: Mitochondrial proteins kick out radicals (Oxidative stress)
Key Words: uncoupling UCP oxidative stress superoxide
mitochondria Abstract: Like bouncers at a bar, several proteins
appear to eject molecular hellions from a cellular chamber where
they could cause trouble. The miscreants--reactive oxygen
species (ROS) such as superoxide--have been implicated in aging.
Primarily byproducts of cellular energy production, ROS damage
other molecules due to their highly reactive nature: Also known
as oxygen radicals, ROS break chemical bonds in DNA, proteins,
and fats (see "The Two Faces of Oxygen"). The molecules in the
center of mitochondria are particularly at risk of being roughed
up by ROS, because that's where most of these destructive
molecules are created. Now biochemists have discovered that a
family of proteins called uncoupling proteins (UCPs) might
provide some protection: Perhaps they boot superoxide radicals
out of the middle of mitocho