Palmitic acid induces UCP1-independent mitochondrial depolarization specifically in brown adipose tissue.

ABSTRACT: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a major site of nonshivering thermogenesis, where mitochondria generate heat instead of ATP. The thermogenesis occurs through the activity of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which specifically resides in the mitochondrial inner membrane and dissipates the mitochondrial proton gradient upon activation by long-chain free fatty acids. Although UCP1-independent proton leak has been reported, the mechanism underlying UCP1-independent mitochondrial membrane depolarization remains largely unknown. Here, using primary brown adipocytes, we found that cold-mimicking stimulation induces mitochondrial membrane depolarization even under UCP1 KO and knockdown conditions. Furthermore, during cold-mimicking stimulation, palmitic acid shows the most prominent increase in a lipoly

SUBMITTER: Ishikawa Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12933586 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature