Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids stimulate transcription of uncoupling protein 3 in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells

Abstract

Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is a mitochondrial membrane transporter, regulating energy expenditure and fat oxidation in skeletal muscle and is up‐regulated by fatty acids. In the present, we investigated the effects of omega‐3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), on the regulation of UCP3 gene transcription in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. The mRNA levels were assayed using quantitative real‐time PCR. DHA and EPA up‐regulated the UCP3 mRNA level in a dose‐dependent manner. The ‐1790/+52 bp of the UCP3 promoter was subcloned into the pGL3‐basic vector that includes luciferase as a reporter gene. UCP3 promoter activity was also increased by DHA or EPA in a dose‐dependent manner. These results suggested that omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may regulate transcription of the UCP3 gene in skeletal muscle cells. "This study was supported by the Project of Bio‐Food Research from the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF, M10510130005‐08N1013‐00510)".