Mitochondria Info

Mitochondria — General Information

From: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/CellularRespiration.html. They also discuss mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) on this page and how mutations in mitochondrial DNA cause disease (such as exercise intolerance).

Mitochondria are membrane-enclosed organelles distributed through the cytosol of most eukaryotic cells. Their main function is the conversion of the potential energy of food molecules into ATP. Mitochondria have:

• an outer membrane that encloses the entire structure
• an inner membrane that encloses a fluid-filled matrix
• between the two is the intermembrane space
• the inner membrane is elaborately folded with shelflike cristae projecting into the matrix.
• a small number (some 5–10) circular molecules of DNA

The Outer Membrane

The outer membrane contains many complexes of integral membrane proteins that form channels through which a variety of molecules and ions move in and out of the mitochondrion.

The Inner Membrane

The inner membrane contains 5 complexes of integral membrane proteins:

• NADH dehydrogenase
• succinate dehydrogenase
• cytochrome c reductase(also known as the cytochrome b-c1 complex)
• cytochrome c oxidase
• ATP synthase

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