Question

The discovery of brown and beige adipocytes has strong therapeutic potential because it suggests that these cells can be activated:

A) To increase physical activity

B) To increase energy expenditure

C) To store energy

Answer 1

The activation of brown and beige adipocytes holds therapeutic potential for increasing energy expenditure due to their high metabolic activity and ability to produce heat instead of ATP when breaking down fats.

Step-by-step explanation:

The discovery of brown and beige adipocytes has strong therapeutic potential because it suggests that these cells can be activated to increase energy expenditure. Brown adipose tissue, commonly found in infants and known as "baby fat," is thermogenic. This means that as it breaks down fats, it releases metabolic heat, making it very effective at metabolizing stored fat. Brown adipocytes contain numerous mitochondria that contain a protein called thermogenin, which uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, leading to the production of heat instead of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Unlike white adipocytes, which store lipids as a large single droplet and are metabolically less active, brown adipocytes have many smaller droplets and a higher metabolic activity. This characteristic of brown fat provides a potential target for weight loss therapies, as activating these cells can lead to an increased breakdown of fats and thus an increase in heat production and energy use.