Question

Thermogenin in the inner membrane of brown fat cell mitochondria does all of the following except

A) decrease the proton gradient.
B) uncouple ATP synthesis from electron transport.
C) generate heat.
D) decrease ATP synthesis.
E) increase ATP synthesis.

Answer 1

Thermogenin in the inner membrane of brown fat cell mitochondria helps generate heat by uncoupling ATP synthesis from electron transport, reducing the proton gradient and ATP synthesis, but does not increase ATP synthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thermogenin in the inner membrane of brown fat cell mitochondria functions to generate heat by uncoupling ATP synthesis from electron transport, thereby decreasing the proton gradient and decreasing ATP synthesis. However, thermogenin does not serve to increase ATP synthesis; in fact, its function allows for the dissipation of energy as heat rather than the formation of ATP. This process is particularly important in newborns who have a higher surface area to mass ratio, causing them to lose heat more rapidly and necessitating an efficient mechanism to generate heat for maintaining body temperature.