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Editorial
. 2018 Jan 25;16(1):e2005113.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005113. eCollection 2018 Jan.

Hot mitochondria?

Nick Lane  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Hot mitochondria?

Nick Lane. PLoS Biol. .

Abstract

Mitochondria generate most of the heat in endotherms. Given some impedance of heat transfer across protein-rich bioenergetic membranes, mitochondria must operate at a higher temperature than body temperature in mammals and birds. But exactly how much hotter has been controversial, with physical calculations suggesting that maximal heat gradients across cells could not be greater than 10(-5) K. Using the thermosensitive mitochondrial-targeted fluorescent dye Mito Thermo Yellow (MTY), Chrétien and colleagues suggest that mitochondria are optimised to nearly 50 °C, 10 °C hotter than body temperature. This extreme value questions what temperature really means in confined far-from-equilibrium systems but encourages a reconsideration of thermal biology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author has declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Mitochondria as radiators: Parallel arrays of closely appositioned cristae membranes could heat the mitochondrial matrix.
(Image courtesy of Terrence G. Frey, San Diego State University, used in doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004604).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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