“Scientists have uncovered a possible way of interfering with the process which could be responsible for a host of age-related illnesses,” reported BBC News (5 January, 2001).

A study by Martin Brand and colleagues published in the 3 January issue of Nature describes how superoxide activates uncoupling proteins. They found that superoxide increases mitochondrial proton conductance by affecting the uncoupling proteins, UCP1, 2 and 3, and concluded that the interaction between superoxide and UCPs might reduce the concentrations of reactive oxygen species inside mitochondria.

“These free radicals... can cause damage to the genetic information held in cells. This damage... has been linked to the development of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and certain cancers. The... uncoupling proteins, help shift the free radicals away from sensitive areas of the cell to other areas where they can be safely dealt with,” said BBC News.

Brand said he believes that a lack of these uncoupling proteins might make it difficult for cells to dispose of free radicals and that strategies aimed at upregulating these proteins could be of therapeutic value. “The role of uncoupling proteins could be fundamental to protecting against degenerative disease and ageing,” he told BBC News. “We hope that by understanding their role, we could find potential new ways to prevent or treat free-radical linked diseases. For example, we might be able to decrease cellular ageing by using chemicals which switch these proteins on.”