Uncoupling protein 2 is a mitochondrial inner membrane transport protein that is expressed in a wide range of tissues. UCP2 inhibits mitochondrial glucose oxidation and promotes glycolysis in human pluripotent stem cells. During early differentiation of hPSCs, the expression of UCP2 is repressed, which results in reduced glycolysis. This demonstrates a role for UCP2 in the metabolic reprogramming during differentiation of hPSCs. Overexpression of UCP2 in cancer cells stimulates oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and inhibits cell proliferation.
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