The bodies of humans and other mammals store triglycerides in two kinds of tissue, which are called white and brown fat. The main function of white fat is to store triglycerides for energy. Brown tissue has more mitochondria than white tissue, and these are used to generate body heat in an unusual process.   Mitochondria in brown fat make thermogenin, a protein that uncouples ATP synthesis from mitochondrial electron transfer chains. Thermogenin is a transport protein that allows hydrogen ions to move directly across the inner mitochondrial membrane instead of through ATP synthase. Since ATP synthase isn't activated, these "leaky" membranes produce less ATP. However, electrons still pass through electron transfer chains, and this process generates heat.   In 2015, Daniele Barbato and his colleagues investigated the effect of a high-fat diet on brown fat mitochondrial function in mice. They maintained an experimental group of mice on a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat), and a control group of mice on a normal diet (ND, 12% fat). The graphs show their results.   The number of mitochondria per gram of brown fat tissue was identical for both groups. Given this, which group had the highest total number of brown fat mitochondria per body?   A. The normal diet group   B. The high-fat diet group

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The bodies of humans and other mammals store triglycerides in two kinds of tissue, which are called white and brown fat. The main function of white fat is to store triglycerides for energy. Brown tissue has more mitochondria than white tissue, and these are used to generate body heat in an unusual process.
 
Mitochondria in brown fat make thermogenin, a protein that uncouples ATP synthesis from mitochondrial electron transfer chains. Thermogenin is a transport protein that allows hydrogen ions to move directly across the inner mitochondrial membrane instead of through ATP synthase. Since ATP synthase isn't activated, these "leaky" membranes produce less ATP. However, electrons still pass through electron transfer chains, and this process generates heat.
 
In 2015, Daniele Barbato and his colleagues investigated the effect of a high-fat diet on brown fat mitochondrial function in mice. They maintained an experimental group of mice on a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat), and a control group of mice on a normal diet (ND, 12% fat). The graphs show their results.
 
The number of mitochondria per gram of brown fat tissue was identical for both groups. Given this, which group had the highest total number of brown fat mitochondria per body?
 
A. The normal diet group
 
B. The high-fat diet group
### Analysis of Brown Fat Weight and Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption in Mice

#### Graph Descriptions

**Left Graph: Weight of Brown Fat per Mouse**

- **Y-Axis (Vertical):** Shows the weight of brown fat per mouse, measured in grams. The range is from 0.00 to 0.25 grams.
- **X-Axis (Horizontal):** Displays two groups of mice: ND (normal diet) and HFD (high-fat diet).
- **Data Representation:**
  - **ND:** Depicted in blue, with an approximate weight of 0.10 grams.
  - **HFD:** Depicted in green, with an approximate weight of 0.20 grams.
  
This graph demonstrates that mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) have more brown fat than those on a normal diet (ND).

**Right Graph: Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption**

- **Y-Axis (Vertical):** Indicates mitochondrial oxygen consumption, measured in mmol O2/min/mg protein. The range is from 0 to 8.
- **X-Axis (Horizontal):** Displays the same groups: ND (normal diet) and HFD (high-fat diet).
- **Data Representation:**
  - **ND:** Depicted in blue, with consumption around 6 mmol O2/min/mg protein.
  - **HFD:** Depicted in green, with consumption around 4 mmol O2/min/mg protein.
  
This graph shows that mice on a normal diet (ND) exhibit higher mitochondrial oxygen consumption compared to those on a high-fat diet (HFD).

Overall, these findings suggest that a high-fat diet leads to an increase in brown fat but a decrease in mitochondrial oxygen consumption in mice.
Transcribed Image Text:### Analysis of Brown Fat Weight and Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption in Mice #### Graph Descriptions **Left Graph: Weight of Brown Fat per Mouse** - **Y-Axis (Vertical):** Shows the weight of brown fat per mouse, measured in grams. The range is from 0.00 to 0.25 grams. - **X-Axis (Horizontal):** Displays two groups of mice: ND (normal diet) and HFD (high-fat diet). - **Data Representation:** - **ND:** Depicted in blue, with an approximate weight of 0.10 grams. - **HFD:** Depicted in green, with an approximate weight of 0.20 grams. This graph demonstrates that mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) have more brown fat than those on a normal diet (ND). **Right Graph: Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption** - **Y-Axis (Vertical):** Indicates mitochondrial oxygen consumption, measured in mmol O2/min/mg protein. The range is from 0 to 8. - **X-Axis (Horizontal):** Displays the same groups: ND (normal diet) and HFD (high-fat diet). - **Data Representation:** - **ND:** Depicted in blue, with consumption around 6 mmol O2/min/mg protein. - **HFD:** Depicted in green, with consumption around 4 mmol O2/min/mg protein. This graph shows that mice on a normal diet (ND) exhibit higher mitochondrial oxygen consumption compared to those on a high-fat diet (HFD). Overall, these findings suggest that a high-fat diet leads to an increase in brown fat but a decrease in mitochondrial oxygen consumption in mice.
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