One of the many factors that lead to mitochondrial-associated metabolic diseases is the uncoupling protein-2, a family of mitochondrial anion proteins present in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Sirt1 targets numerous proteins, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma, PPAR-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), and nuclear factor-kappa B, which play key roles in various metabolic disorders.
Very recently, the cloning of UCP2 and UCP3, two homologues of UCP1, has renewed the field of research on the importance of respiration control in metabolic processes and metabolic diseases.