Universal constant for heat production in protists.

ABSTRACT: Using a high sensitivity differential scanning calorimeter in isothermal mode, we directly measured heat production in eukaryotic protists from 5 phyla spanning over 5 orders of magnitude in carbon biomass and 8 orders of magnitude in cell volume. Our results reveal that metabolic heat production normalized to cell mass is virtually constant in these organisms, with a median of 0.037 pW pg C(-1) (95% confidence interval = 0.022-0.061 pW pg C(-1)) at 5 degrees C. Contrary to allometric models, the relationship between heat production and cell carbon content or surface area is isometric (scaling exponents, 1.056 and 1.057, respectively). That heat production per unit cell surface area is constant suggests that heat flux through the cell surface is effectively instantaneous, and hence that ce

SUBMITTER: Johnson MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2672552 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature