RPG: Mitochondrial Metabolic Properties of Endothermic and Ectothermic Vertebrates

9508628伯纳生物体在细胞新陈代谢过程中通过分解燃料来产生热量。在吸热过程中，新陈代谢的热量可以产生得足够快，从而使体温显著高于周围环境。在体温外，新陈代谢产热率非常低，以至于体温主要由周围环境决定。这项研究的目的是确定允许吸热比放热产生热的速度更快的机制。新陈代谢热的高产生通常与氧气消耗和可用化学势能的产生有关。后两个过程发生在亚细胞细胞器，即线粒体中。本研究将对比不同条件下吸温体和外温体线粒体的耗氧率和化学势能(ATP)产生的速率。实验性治疗将包括改变线粒体工作的温度，以及在线粒体履行代谢功能时改变提供给它们的燃料。这项研究将提高对吸温体和外温体代谢差异的机制以及这些差异是如何演变的理解。

9508628 Berner Organisms generate heat by the breakdown of fuels during cellular metabolism. In endotherms, metabolic heat can be produced fast enough to raise body temperature significantly above that of the surroundings. In ectotherms, rates of metabolic heat production are so low that body temperature is determined primarily by the surrounding environment. The aim of this research is to determine the mechanisms that permit endotherms to produce heat at a greater rate than can ectotherms. High rates of metabolic heat production are usually linked to high rates of oxygen consumption and production of usable chemical potential energy. These last two processes occur in subcellular organelles, the mitochondria. This research will contrast the rate of oxygen consumption and chemical potential energy (ATP) production by the mitochondria of endotherms and ectotherms under a variety of conditions. Experimental treatments will include varying the temperature at which the mitochondria work and varying the fuels provided to the mitochondria as they perform their metabolic functions. The research will improve understanding of the mechanisms responsible for metabolic differences between endotherms and ectotherms and of how these differences evolved.