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Metabolic water

What happens to metabolic water?
May 2, 2012

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  • Tomáš Hluska · Palacký University of Olomouc
    The cells can contain more than 50% of water (but also very little in special cases), so the metabolic water (if you mean water arising from metabolic reactions) just "gets lost". I mean it stays in the cell waiting untill next reaction which will use it :)
    May 2, 2012
  • Marianna Anderle de Sylor · University of Michigan
    It also depends on the species. Birds, for example, have a very different metabolic water retention rate than humans. Are you interested in a particular organism?
    May 2, 2012
  • Moolya M. · Mahatma Gandhi University
    Could you please explain case of different types of organisms?
    May 3, 2012
  • Marianna Anderle de Sylor · University of Michigan
    Hi Moolya, I'm not aware of any study that reviews this comprehensively... but here are some species specific studies that may be of interest for you:

    rodents (Kangaroo rats)
    http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1941171?uid=3737864&uid=2&uid=4&sid=56139114293

    large mammals (Elephant seals)
    http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/30158286?uid=3737864&uid=2&uid=4&sid=56139114293

    birds (Starlings)
    http://jeb.biologists.org/content/75/1/231.short

    insects (Tribolium confusum, Ephestia kuehniella and Dermestes vulpinus)
    http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=2448400

    Hope this is helpful!
    May 4, 2012
  • Matt Palmer · University of Guelph
    Hey Moolya, in humans the cell membrane is semi-permeable and allows free movement of water from one side to the other. Any water generated through oxidative phosphorylation (this is the primary source of metabolic water in the body, especially with exercise) will move passively to balance osmolality between the intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid.

    So in short the answer is that it may stay in the cell, or it may not. It really depends on the circumstance.

    Also, this should be the same for all organisms as we share the same basic chemistry, however don't quote me on that.
    May 9, 2012
  • Tomáš Hluska · Palacký University of Olomouc
    I know the membrane should be permeable for water, but what are the aquaporins needed for in such case?
    May 9, 2012
  • Valeria Rivarola · University of Buenos Aires
    hi tomas. Even though most membranes are permeable to water the presence of aquaporins makes them much more permeable and let the cell regulate its rate of water and in many occations that change in the rate is linked to cellular responses: the presence of aquaporins are linked to those changes
    Jan 2, 2013
  • Tomáš Hluska · Palacký University of Olomouc
    Great to have someone experienced in aquaporins :)
    Well then, but how is it with plasmolysis (or -ptysis, I don't remember)? Why cells lose so much water in hyperosmotic solution, if they are able to regulate aquaporins?
    Jan 2, 2013
  • Vladimir Matveev · Russian Academy of Sciences
    This is very important to know that the cell water has two physical states: free and bound (adsorbed by proteins). See http://vladimirmatveev.ru/protoreaction.html for details.
    Jan 4, 2013
  • Valeria Rivarola · University of Buenos Aires
    But even if cells downregulate aquaporins water will permeate through the lipids (more slowly), the difference is the rate and the possibility of volume regulation that that velocity may elicit
    Jan 4, 2013

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