Mitochondrion: Difference between revisions

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Mitochondria (singular ''mitochondrion'') are the source of energy production within a cell. They are semiautonomous and self producing, residing in the cytoplasm of '''eukaryotic cells'''. Converting cellular energy '''metabolites''' in the '''Kreb’s Cycle''', through the process of '''oxidative phosphorylation''' they produce '''adenosine triphosphate (ATP)''' which is used to power other processes in the cell.<ref>[http://mips.gsf.de/genre/proj/mfungd/About/glossary.html] Munich Information Center for Protein Synthesis</ref><ref name=NCBICell>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/genetics_cell.html What is a cell?] National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Insitutes of Health</ref><ref name=UTMedMitoStrx>[http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/mitochondria_1.htm#Substructure Mitochondrial substructure] Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch</ref><ref name=JakubowskiATP>[http://employees.csbsju.edu/hjakubowski/classes/ch331/oxphos/olcouplingoxphos.html ATP and oxidative phosphorylation reactions] Jakubowski, Henry (2006) College of Saint Benedict, Saint John’s University</ref>
Mitochondria (singular ''mitochondrion'') are the source of energy production within a cell. They are semiautonomous and self producing, residing in the cytoplasm of '''eukaryotic cells'''. Converting cellular energy '''metabolites''' in the '''Kreb’s Cycle''', through the process of '''oxidative phosphorylation''' they produce '''adenosine triphosphate (ATP)''' which is used to power other processes in the cell.<ref>[http://mips.gsf.de/genre/proj/mfungd/About/glossary.html] Munich Information Center for Protein Synthesis</ref><ref name=NCBICell>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/genetics_cell.html What is a cell?] National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Insitutes of Health</ref><ref name=UTMedMitoStrx>[http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/mitochondria_1.htm#Substructure Mitochondrial substructure] Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch</ref><ref name=JakubowskiATP>[http://employees.csbsju.edu/hjakubowski/classes/ch331/oxphos/olcouplingoxphos.html ATP and oxidative phosphorylation reactions] Jakubowski, Henry (2006) College of Saint Benedict, Saint John’s University</ref>


Mitochondria are rod shaped<ref>Usually rod shaped. they may also be round.</ref> '''organelles''' <ref> a word derived from Greek meaning ''Little organ''</ref> with an inner and an outer membrane. The '''outer membrane''' limits the organelle. The '''inner membrane''' folds in on itself forming the '''''cristae mitochondriales''''', giving the appearance of partitions and chambers within the organelle in cross section.<ref>[http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/mitoch1.htm  Mitochondria: Architecture dictates function] Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch</ref>  The cristae number and shape vary according to the type of tissue and organism. Cristae serve to increase the surface area of the inner membrane.<ref name=NCBICell/>.
Their function is essential to efficient energy production. Without them eukaryotic cells would be dependent on anaerobic glycolysis for their ATP. Glycolysis releases very little free energy but in the mitochondria the metabolism of sugars is much more efficient and provides 15 times more ATP than is produced through glycolysis.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=mitochondria&rid=mboc4.section.2495 The mitochondrion] Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2002) ''Molecular Biology of the Cell''. NY:Taylor & Francis Group, Garland Science</ref>
 
Mitochondria take up a large portion of the cytoplasmic volume of eukaryotic cells. They are rod shaped<ref>Usually rod shaped. they may also be round.</ref> '''organelles''' <ref> a word derived from Greek meaning ''Little organ''</ref> with an inner and an outer membrane. The '''outer membrane''' limits the organelle. The '''inner membrane''' folds in on itself forming the '''''cristae mitochondriales''''', giving the appearance of partitions and chambers within the organelle in cross section.<ref>[http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/mitoch1.htm  Mitochondria: Architecture dictates function] Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch</ref>  The cristae number and shape vary according to the type of tissue and organism. Cristae serve to increase the surface area of the inner membrane.<ref name=NCBICell/>.


Mitochondria contain their own '''genome''' which is separate and distinct from the genome of the cell.<ref name=NCBICell/> Theoretically, mitochondria may have been separate '''unicellular organisms''' at one time and were subsumed in a '''symbiotic relationship''' into eukaryotic cells at some point in the evolutionary process.<ref name=AlbertsMBioCellMitoandChloro>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=mitochondria&rid=mboc4.chapter.2489 Energy Conversion: Mitochondria and Chloroplasts] Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2002) ''Molecular Biology of the Cell''. NY:Taylor & Francis Group, Garland Science</ref>
Mitochondria contain their own '''genome''' which is separate and distinct from the genome of the cell.<ref name=NCBICell/> Theoretically, mitochondria may have been separate '''unicellular organisms''' at one time and were subsumed in a '''symbiotic relationship''' into eukaryotic cells at some point in the evolutionary process.<ref name=AlbertsMBioCellMitoandChloro>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=mitochondria&rid=mboc4.chapter.2489 Energy Conversion: Mitochondria and Chloroplasts] Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2002) ''Molecular Biology of the Cell''. NY:Taylor & Francis Group, Garland Science</ref>

Revision as of 17:33, 13 January 2008

Template:TOC-right Mitochondria (singular mitochondrion) are the source of energy production within a cell. They are semiautonomous and self producing, residing in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Converting cellular energy metabolites in the Kreb’s Cycle, through the process of oxidative phosphorylation they produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is used to power other processes in the cell.[1][2][3][4]

Their function is essential to efficient energy production. Without them eukaryotic cells would be dependent on anaerobic glycolysis for their ATP. Glycolysis releases very little free energy but in the mitochondria the metabolism of sugars is much more efficient and provides 15 times more ATP than is produced through glycolysis.[5]

Mitochondria take up a large portion of the cytoplasmic volume of eukaryotic cells. They are rod shaped[6] organelles [7] with an inner and an outer membrane. The outer membrane limits the organelle. The inner membrane folds in on itself forming the cristae mitochondriales, giving the appearance of partitions and chambers within the organelle in cross section.[8] The cristae number and shape vary according to the type of tissue and organism. Cristae serve to increase the surface area of the inner membrane.[2].

Mitochondria contain their own genome which is separate and distinct from the genome of the cell.[2] Theoretically, mitochondria may have been separate unicellular organisms at one time and were subsumed in a symbiotic relationship into eukaryotic cells at some point in the evolutionary process.[9]

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Substructure

The two membranes are separated by space. The space enclosed within the inner memberane is the matrix, a moderately dense region with strands of DNA, ribosomes, or small granules. Using these tools, the mitochondria code for a portion of their own proteins. [3]

Inner membrane

The inner membrane constitutes the framework for electron-transport processes that produce most of the cell's ATP.[9]

In prokaryotes, the plasma membrane is used to produce ATP. However, eukaryotic cells reserve this function for membranes in energy converting organells, mitochondria and plastids[10] and the plasma membrane is reserved for other transport processes. Mitochondria and plastids are morphologically notable for their extensive inner membranes. [9]

Life cycle

Replication

In a process similar to replication in bacterial cells, when a mitochondrion reaches a certain size, they undergo fission, the furrowing of the inner and outermembrane which pinches them into two daughter mitochondria. Prior to fission they replicate their DNA.[11]

Death

Mitochondrion at the end of their life are disposed of through autophagy. Cellular endoplasmic reticulum are wrapped around the mitochondrion forming a vacuole. Golgi complex vesicles containing hydrolases then join with the autophagic vacuole which then degrades the contents of the vacuole, the mitochondrion.[11]

Notes

  1. [1] Munich Information Center for Protein Synthesis
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 What is a cell? National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Insitutes of Health
  3. 3.0 3.1 Mitochondrial substructure Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch
  4. ATP and oxidative phosphorylation reactions Jakubowski, Henry (2006) College of Saint Benedict, Saint John’s University
  5. The mitochondrion Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2002) Molecular Biology of the Cell. NY:Taylor & Francis Group, Garland Science
  6. Usually rod shaped. they may also be round.
  7. a word derived from Greek meaning Little organ
  8. Mitochondria: Architecture dictates function Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Energy Conversion: Mitochondria and Chloroplasts Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2002) Molecular Biology of the Cell. NY:Taylor & Francis Group, Garland Science
  10. notably chloroplasts—occuring only in plants
  11. 11.0 11.1 The mitochondrial life cycle Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch