Abstract

    Open Access Review Article Article ID: GJA-2-110

    Oxygen Aspects on Sensing and Utilization

    Moriyama T*, Sten GE

    Oxygen is known to be one of the strongest electron acceptors and has one of its main functions in the electron transport chain producing ATP and heat, so important for energy expenditure and thermoregulation. However, some important mechanisms of oxygen functions are not completely delineated, yet. Sensing oxygen is purposeful and serves various specific functions. One mode of action is to initiate afferent neuronal activity which requires increased cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations. Another action is linked to the Hypoxia Inducible Factor, HIF-1, which in the normoxic state is produced in a prolyl-hydroxylase regulated reaction. The calcium generated neuronal response is usually described as a quick, acute, response that is set in action within seconds whereas the HIF related responses are slower, chronic, activated after several minutes to hours. Traditionally, it has been the opinion that oxygen can diffuse freely across plasma membranes. However, the lipid bilayer has higher viscosity than water by several times, and high oxygen permeability has not been proven. Hence, oxygen transportation across plasma or cell membranes cannot be explained by diffusion alone. It is therefore justified to ask the question if a specific oxygen channel or transport mechanism remains to be discovered.

    Keywords: Oxygen sensing; HIF-1; Potassium channel; Thermogenesis; Oxygen consumption

    Published on: Apr 24, 2015 Pages: 14-18

    Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/2455-3476.000010
    CrossMark Publons Harvard Library HOLLIS Search IT Semantic Scholar Get Citation Base Search Scilit OAI-PMH ResearchGate Academic Microsoft GrowKudos Universite de Paris UW Libraries SJSU King Library SJSU King Library NUS Library McGill DET KGL BIBLiOTEK JCU Discovery Universidad De Lima WorldCat VU on WorldCat

    Indexing/Archiving

    Case Reports

    Pinterest on GJA