Hibernation: Alteration of Mitochondrial Membranes as a Requisite for Metabolism at Low Temperature

  1. John K. Raison* and
  2. James M. Lyons†
  1. Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Riverside, Calif. 92502

Abstract

Lipids of mitochondrial membranes from hepatic cells of active ground squirrels apparently go through a phase change induced at approximately 23°C similar to the phase change in mitochondria of homeotherms. This change was indicated by the activity of succinate oxidase from the isolated mitochondria exhibiting a nonintersecting discontinuous Arrhenius plot. This discontinuity in the Arrhenius plot is not evident with mitochondria from the livers of hibernating squirrels, which indicates that the temperature-induced phase change in the mitochondrial membranes has been eliminated. These findings suggest that physical properties of the mitochondrial membrane change in relation to the process of hibernation.

Footnotes

  • ↵ * Visiting Research Biochemist on leave from the Plant Physiology Unit, C.S.I.R.O., Division of Food Preservation, Botany Department, Sydney University, Australia.

  • ↵ † Present address: Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, Calif. 95616

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  1. PNAS 1971-09 vol. 68 no. 9 2092-2094
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