Turns Out The Powerhouse of Our Cells Could Be Running at a Scorching 50°C

A surprising new study suggests that mitochondria, the ‘powerhouse of the cell’, actually run at a temperature that’s far warmer than the human body.

Tau.Neutrino said:

Turns Out The Powerhouse of Our Cells Could Be Running at a Scorching 50°C

A surprising new study suggests that mitochondria, the ‘powerhouse of the cell’, actually run at a temperature that’s far warmer than the human body.

“Rak and his colleagues took human kidney and skin cells, as well as lung cancer cells, and applied the dye to them, and kept them toasty at 38°C (100.4°F). When the cells were exposed to an oxygen-rich environment that stimulated energy production, there was a surprising increase in temperature.

They found that mitochondria became 7 to 12°C (12 to 21°F) hotter than the rest of the cell, reaching a sizzling 50°C (122°F). For a person, that would be a life-threatening fever, and in fact exceeds the hottest body temperature ever recorded.

But the idea that the powerhouse of the cell may run extremely hot is not entirely preposterous.

“Mitochondria are the main sources of heat, and they have to be hotter than the rest of the body,” University College London biochemist Nick Lane, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Michael Le Page at New Scientist.

“I’d never really thought of that before.”

It’s important to note that the study hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed, but if the results hold, they would call into question what we know about how our proverbial cellular powerhouses work.”

Interesting

The ATP – ADP cycle is well understood.
In the process of this splitting the bonds in ATP a great deal of energy is released.