Studies of the effects of Vitamin E on mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins

Abstract

Antioxidant defences can be broadly divided into two classes; the first class is Free radical scavenger. One example is Vitamin E VE) which can ameliorate the effect of oxidative stress on cells through well known scavenging mechanisms. The other class is prophylactic antioxidants and they prevent free radical formation. One example is mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins (UCPs) as they are thought to be able to dampen mitochondrial generation of superoxide. In this project, we discover that VE is able to activate mitochondrial UCPs. Moreover, we also find that VE may be able to up-regulate expression of cellular UCPs. Mitochondrial uncoupling through UCPs reduces ROS production. While the reduced form of VE neutralizes ROS, its oxidized form may activate UCPs, thus hinting of a new pathway in which VE prevents ROS production. This suggests that the two major classes of antioxidants could be more closely linked than previously thought.