Question

19a. (2pts) The Inuit people of Greenland spend most of their day in freezing cold temperatures. Why would these people express an “uncoupler” protein? __________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

19b. (2pts) Compared to you, do the Inuit people make MORE or LESS ATP for each glucose molecule that they process? _________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Answer 1

A) The uncoupling protein (UCP) gene family is one of the protien behind humans cold adaptation. The UCPs are members of the MACP (mitochondrial anion carrier protein) family and play major role in generating heat when they separate oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis. Humans have eight paralogous genes on the genome. Among them, three UCP genes (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) are thermogenesis with tissue specificity. Among three genes, UCP1 is expressed highly and thermogenesis in adult humans is more active in winter. UCP1 have necessarily expend extra energy to defend their body temperature, the activation of alternative compensatory mechanisms, such as shivering thermogenesis is the role of UCP1.

B) Inuit people spend more ATP for each glucose molecule to defend their body temperature; the activation of alternative compensatory mechanisms, such as shivering thermogenesis.When UCP1 mediated-BAT thermogenesis enhances the oxidation of metabolic substrates necessary for sustaining enhanced thermogenesis. Under these conditions, BAT not only use stored lipids as substrates, but also large quantities of glucose and triglycerides.