In vertebrate animals, brown fat tissue's color is due to abundant blood vessels and capillaries. White fat tissue, on the other hand, is specialized for fat storage and contains relatively few blood vessels or capillaries. Brown fat cells have a specialized protein that dissipates the proton-motive force across the mitochondrial membranes. Which of the following might be the function of the brown fat tissue?
A) to increase the rate of oxidative phosphorylation from its few mitochondria
B) to allow the animals to regulate their metabolic rate when it is especially hot
C) to increase the production of ATP
D) to allow other membranes of the cell to perform mitochondrial functions
E) to regulate temperature by converting most of the energy from NADH oxidation to heat

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Brown fat tissue is specialized for the production of heat (thermogenesis), rather than ATP production. The specialized protein in brown fat cells dissipates the proton-motive force across the mitochondrial membranes, which generates heat instead of ATP. This heat-producing function of brown fat tissue helps to regulate body temperature in newborns and hibernating animals.

In Vertebrate Animals, Brown Fat Tissue's Color Is Due to Abundant