RPG: Mitochondrial Metabolic Properties of Endothermic and Ectothermic Vertebrates

[508628]伯纳生物体在细胞代谢过程中通过燃料的分解产生热量。在恒温动物中，代谢热的产生速度足以使体温显著高于周围环境的温度。在变温动物中，代谢产热的速率非常低，体温主要由周围环境决定。这项研究的目的是确定使恒温动物产生热量的速度比变温动物快的机制。高的代谢产热率通常与高的耗氧率和可用化学位能的产生有关。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恒温动物和变温动物线粒体的耗氧速率和化学势能（ATP）的产生。实验治疗将包括改变线粒体工作的温度和改变提供给线粒体的燃料，因为它们执行其代谢功能。这项研究将提高对恒温动物和变温动物之间代谢差异的机制的理解，以及这些差异是如何进化的。

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.