Semi-autonomous Organelles: Mitochondria (Sing. Mitochondrion) -
Semi-autonomous Organelles: Mitochondria (Sing. Mitochondrion)
- Mitochondria are the double membrane bound cell organelles.
- These are present both in plant cell and animal cell.
- These are commonly referred to as the powerhouse of the cell because they are responsible for the production of ATPs during aerobic respiration.
- Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy-carrying molecule of a cell. ATP represents the short-term stored energy of the cell.
Membranes
- Mitochondria are spherical or rod-shaped organelles that are surrounded by two membranes.
- The outer membrane is smooth and contains special proteins called porins that allow easy diffusion of the particle. It is completely permeable to nutrient molecules, ions, ATPs etc.
- The inner membrane has a complex structure. It shows infoldings called cristae (sing. crista) where the enzymes for electron transport chain are present. It is highly selectively permeable.
- The space between the outer and inner membrane is called the peri-mitochondrial or inter-mitochondrial space.
The inner membrane of the mitochondria consists of oxysomes as well the protein
complexes involved in the electron transport chain.
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