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Phylogenetic differences of mammalian basal metabolic rate are not explained by mitochondrial basal proton leak
Citation
Polymeropoulos, ET and Heldmaier, G and Frappell, PB and McAllan, BM and Withers, KW and Klingenspor, M and White, CR and Jastroch, M, Phylogenetic differences of mammalian basal metabolic rate are not explained by mitochondrial basal proton leak, Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences, 279, (1726) pp. 185-193. ISSN 0962-8452 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 The Royal Society
DOI: doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0881
Abstract
Metabolic rates of mammals presumably increased during the evolution of endothermy, but molecular
and cellular mechanisms underlying basal metabolic rate (BMR) are still not understood. It has been
established that mitochondrial basal proton leak contributes significantly to BMR. Comparative studies
among a diversity of eutherian mammals showed that BMR correlates with body mass and proton
leak. Here, we studied BMR and mitochondrial basal proton leak in liver of various marsupial species.
Surprisingly, we found that the mitochondrial proton leak was greater in marsupials than in eutherians,
although marsupials have lower BMRs. To verify our finding, we kept similar-sized individuals of a marsupial opossum (Monodelphis domestica) and a eutherian rodent (Mesocricetus auratus) species under
identical conditions, and directly compared BMR and basal proton leak. We confirmed an approximately
40 per cent lower mass specific BMR in the opossum although its proton leak was significantly higher
(approx. 60%). We demonstrate that the increase in BMR during eutherian evolution is not based on
a general increase in the mitochondrial proton leak, although there is a similar allometric relationship
of proton leak and BMR within mammalian groups. The difference in proton leak between endothermic
groups may assist in elucidating distinct metabolic and habitat requirements that have evolved during
mammalian divergence.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | marsupials, eutherians, basal metabolic rate, mitochondria, basal proton leak, liver |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Biochemistry and cell biology |
| Research Field: | Cell metabolism |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Polymeropoulos, ET (Dr Elias Polymeropoulos) |
| UTAS Author: | Frappell, PB (Professor Peter Frappell) |
| ID Code: | 75644 |
| Year Published: | 2012 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 26 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2012-02-08 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-01 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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