At One Time the Uncoupler 2,4-Dinitrophenol Was Used as a Weight

question 61

Multiple Choice

At one time the uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol was used as a weight reducing drug. Its side-effects, including death, resulted in its discontinued use. How could this drug cause weight loss?

• A) The uncoupler allows the oxidation of fats from adipose tissue without the production of ATP. This allows the oxidation to proceed continuously and use up the fats.
• B) The uncoupler causes ATP to be produced at a much higher rate than normal and this causes weight loss.
• C) The uncoupler inhibits the transport of pyruvate into the matrix of the mitochondria. Fats are then degraded to glycerol and subsequently to pyruvate to provide the necessary energy. Thereby depleting fat stores.
• D) The uncoupler is an allosteric activator of ATP synthase. This increases the rate of translocation of H⁺ and the oxidation of fuels, including fats.

---

Definitions:

Board of Directors

A group of individuals elected by shareholders to oversee the management and major decisions of a corporation.

Local Communities

Groups of people living in the same geographic area, sharing common social ties, and interacting with each other on a daily basis.

Core Values

Essential tenets or guiding precepts that determine how individuals act and behave within a corporate setting.

Social Mission

A company's commitment to achieving specific societal benefits as part of its business operations, beyond profit maximization.