Mammalian metabolism: insights from arid zone reptiles.

Mammals, being endotherms have very high metabolic rates compared to ectothermic reptiles. Similarly, small mammals have high rates of mass-specific metabolism compared to larger mammals. This review examines the mechanistic basis of why particular mammal species have a specific metabolic rate. Initial studies compared mammals with arid zone reptile species of the same size and Tb. Mammals have larger internal organs, with more mitochondrial membrane surface area than the reptiles. The cells of mammals are leakier to Na+ ions and their mitochondrial membranes are leakier to H+ ions than in reptile cells. These leakier membranes have membrane lipids that are polyunsaturated and less monounsaturated than their less leaky counterparts. Examination of the cellular basis of allometric variation in metabolism in mammals reveals very similar findings with polyunsaturated membranes associated with the high mass-specific metabolic rates of small mammal species and monounsaturated membranes with low rates of metabolism of large mammals. These findings have resulted in the development of the ‘membrane pacemaker’ theory of metabolism, which proposes that membrane bilayer composition is regulated in animals and that highly polyunsaturated membranes result in enhanced molecular activity of membrane proteins and in turn this results in an elevated metabolic rate of cells, tissues and consequently whole animals. This theory is also supported by the recent examination of the basis of body-size variation in the metabolic rates of birds. The ‘membrane pacemaker’ theory of metabolism is currently the only explanation of the mechanisms determining the metabolic rate and thus the cost of living of animals. It has implications for the effect of food habits on metabolism and the relationship between metabolism and lifespan.