Uncoupling protein in human brown adipose tissue mitochondria. Isolation and detection by specific antiserum

A protein of Mr 32 000 has been isolated from human infant brown adipose tissue mitochondria following the procedure used to purify the uncoupling protein from rat brown adipose tissue mitochondria. A specific antiserum has been raised against the human 32 kDa protein, and used to detect it by probing mitochondrial proteins separated by SDS-PAGE. The protein is present in large amounts in brown adipose tissue but is undetectable in human liver, heart or white adipose tissue. It has strong immunological cross-reactivity with rat brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein.