Final answer:
Individuals with a hereditary deficiency of carnitine acyltransferase II have muscle weakness because this enzyme is responsible for transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for energy production in muscle cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals with a hereditary deficiency of carnitine acyltransferase II have muscle weakness because this enzyme is responsible for transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for energy production in muscle cells.
During fasting, when the body's glycogen stores are depleted, the reliance on fatty acids for energy increases. Since individuals with carnitine acyltransferase II deficiency cannot efficiently transport fatty acids into the mitochondria, there is a limited availability of energy for muscle contraction, leading to more severe muscle weakness.
Another hypothetical cause of hereditary muscle weakness might involve defects in other proteins or genes related to muscle function or metabolism, such as those involved in the glycogen storage pathways or the production and regulation of enzymes like myophosphorylase. To test such a hypothesis, one could perform genetic screening to identify mutations and correlate these with muscle function measurements in affected individuals.