Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:31:05 BST CiteULike: omalbam's library [235 articles] http://www.citeulike.org/user/omalbam/article/2697905 CiteULike.org en-gb Copyright © 2004-2008 citeulike.org http://www.citeulike.org/user/omalbam/article/2697905 <i>Eur J Endocrinol, Vol. 158, No. 5. (1 May 2008), pp. 669-676.</i><br /><br />ObjectiveUncoupling protein 3 (UCP-3) uncouples oxidative metabolism from ATP synthesis, resulting in the production of heat instead of energy storage. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in UCP-3 might result in a reduced function or expression of UCP-3 and therefore lead to an increased capacity to store energy as fat. DesignWe conducted a population-based, cross-sectional single-center study among 400 Dutch men between 40 and 80 years. MethodsSeven SNPs in the UCP-3 gene were genotyped by means of an allele-specific real-time TaqMan PCR. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine the independent effects of these SNPs on obesity phenotypes. ResultsWe found a significant association between homozygosity for the minor allele of rs647126, rs1685356, and rs2075577 and an increase in body mass index (BMI; P=0.033, P=0.016, and P=0.019 respectively). Heterozygosity for rs1685354 was associated with a significant decrease in visceral fat mass (P=0.030). ConclusionsOur results suggest that genetic variations in the UCP-3 gene are associated with an increase in BMI. A plausible mechanism by which these SNPs lead to an increase in BMI is that due to these SNPs, the UCP-3 activity might be decreased. As a result, uncoupling activity may also decrease, which will lead to an increase in body weight and BMI. 10.1530/EJE-07-0834 Variations in the uncoupling protein-3 gene are associated with specific obesity phenotypes Annet van Abeelen Mariken de Krom Judith Hendriks Diederick Grobbee Roger Adan Yvonne van der Schouw doi:10.1530/EJE-07-0834 Eur J Endocrinol, Vol. 158, No. 5. (1 May 2008), pp. 669-676. 2008-04-21T19:09:45-00:00 2008 Eur J Endocrinol 158 5 669 676 diagnosis molecular obesity