title: Evolution of energy metabolism. Proton permeability of the inner membrane of liver mitochondria is greater in a mammal than in a reptile.
abstract: Standard metabolic rate is 7-fold greater in the rat (a typical mammal) than in the bearded dragon, Amphibolurus vitticeps (a reptile with the same body mass and temperature). Rat hepatocytes respire 4-fold faster than do hepatocytes from the lizard. The inner membrane of isolated rat liver mitochondrial has a proton permeability that is 4-5-fold greater than the proton permeability of the lizard liver mitochondrial membrane per mg of mitochondrial protein. The greater permeability of rat mitochondria is not caused by differences in the surface area of the mitochondrial inner membrane, but differences in the fatty acid composition of the mitochondrial phospholipids may be involved in the permeability differences. Greater proton permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane may contribute to the greater standard metabolic rate of mammals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Else
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hulbert
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010539:Permeability; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D011522:Protons; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate