The Role of Uncoupling Protein 1 in the Metabolism and Adiposity of RIIβ-Protein Kinase A-Deficient Mice

Mice lacking the RIIβ regulatory subunit of protein kinase A exhibit a 50% reduction in white adipose tissue stores compared with wild-type littermates and are resistant to diet-induced obesity. RIIβ−/− mice also have an increase in resting oxygen consumption along with a 4-fold increase in the brown adipose-specific mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). In this study, we examined the basis for UCP1 induction and tested the hypothesis that the induced levels of UCP1 in RIIβ null mice are essential for the lean phenotype. The induction of UCP1 occurred at the protein but not the mRNA level and correlated with an increase in mitochondria in brown adipose tissue. Mice lacking both RIIβ and UCP1 (RIIβ−/−/Ucp1−/−) were created, and the key parameters of metabolism and body composition were studied. We discovered that RIIβ−/− mice exhibit nocturnal hyperactivity in addition to the increased oxygen consumption at rest. Disruption of UCP1 in RIIβ−/− mice reduced basal oxygen consumption but did not prevent the nocturnal hyperactivity. The double knockout animals also retained the lean phenotype of the RIIβ null mice, demonstrating that induction of UCP1 and increased resting oxygen consumption is not the cause of leanness in the RIIβ mutant mice.