Fuel selection at the level of mitochondria in mammalian tissues

摘要

An average human adult contains about 50 g ATP at any one instant, whereas the adult's typical energy needs over 24 h requires the hydrolysis of over 4000 times this amount, or 200 kg ATP! Moreover, utilization of ATP varies greatly in different tissues in different circumstances. For instance, a person doing strenuous exercise will require their heart to work up to six times harder than at rest. Such changes require matching increases in respiration and, hence, ATP formation and it is important thatthe appropriate metabolic fuel is used depending on the nutritional status of the individual and the tissue.