Question

Hibernating animals usually have low rates of metabolism. Periodically, they have episodes of arousal, where they rapidly increase body temperature. During arousal, they synthesize a membrane protein not normally present in their cells. What might that protein do?

Answer 1

The protein is known as Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) that is present in inner mitochondrial membrane of brown adipose cells of mammals and other organisms undergoing hibernation.

Function:

• The protein allows the organisms to produce metabolic heat that helps in the organism’s regulation of body temperature.
• This protein can also serve as a source of carbon for the production of carbohydrates when organism faces the period of prolonged fasting and thus help the organism to survive.
• The protein also helps in the movement of protons into the mitochondrial matrix that ultimately activate the electron transport chain and releases more and more heat for body’s maintenance.

Hope it helps!