MITOCHONDRIA

What is Mitochondrioa?

Mitochondria are the sites of cellular respiration, the metabolic process that uses oxygen to drive the
generation of ATP by extracting energy from sugars, fats, and other fuels.

They are often called the “powerhouses” or “energy factories” of a cell because they are responsible for
making adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s main energy-carrying molecule.

Mitochondrion (pl. mitochondria) is the powerhouse of the cell where cellular respiration takes place.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the usable form of energy for the cell to perform its functions. It is
generated by metabolizing sugars, fats and other energy sources with the presence of oxygen.

The mitochondrion has outer and inner membranes. The outer membrane is smooth while cristae (inner
membrane) have infoldings giving large surface area for metabolic activities. The matrix is one of the
two components of cristae containing different enzymes, DNA, and ribosomes. These enzymes catalyse
the process of cellular respiration.

Characteristics of Mitochondria

1. They are colorless cell organelles.

2. They are found in all types of cells of aerobic organisms, both plants and animals.
3. They are generally cylindrical in outline.
4. Their inner membrane is folded into cristae
5. Cristae do not form grana.
 6. Pigments do not occur in mitochondria
7. Do not take part in the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.
8. They liberate energy by breaking down of organic food to produce carbon dioxide and water.
9. They consume oxygen.
10. Site of electron transport chain, Beta oxidation, Oxidative phosphorylation, Photorespiration.

The Mitochondria are composed of two membranes:

Outer membrane

 It is a selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the mitochondria.

 It is the site of attachment for the respiratory assembly of the electron transport chain and ATP
Synthase.
 It has integral proteins and pores for transporting molecules just like the cell membrane.
 It covers the organelle like a skin, protecting it.
 The outer membrane is smooth.

Inner membrane

 The inner membrane is also loaded with proteins involved in electron transport and ATP
synthesis.
 Folds inward (called cristae) to increase surfaces for cellular metabolism. It contains ribosomes
and the DNA of the mitochondria. Cristae are studded with proteins.
 The inner membrane creates two enclosed spaces within the mitochondria:
 Intermembrane space between the outer membrane and the inner membrane.
 Matrix the compartment enclosed by the inner membrane. The matrix is one of the
components of cristae containing different enzymes, DNA, and ribosomes. These
enzymes catalyse the process of cellular respiration.

 This membrane surrounds the mitochondrial matrix, where the citric acid cycle produces the
electrons that travel from one protein complex to the next in the inner membrane. At the end of
this electron transport chain, the final electron acceptor is oxygen, and this ultimately forms
water (H20). At the same time, the electron transport chain produces ATP. (This is why the
process is called oxidative phosphorylation.)
 During electron transport, the participating protein complexes push protons from the matrix out
to the intermembrane space. This creates a concentration gradient of protons that another
protein complex, called ATP synthase, uses to power synthesis of the energy carrier molecule
ATP.
 At the inner mitochondrial membrane, a high energy electron is passed along an electron transport
chain. The energy released pumps hydrogen out of the matrix space. The gradient created by this drives
hydrogen back through the membrane, through ATP synthase. As this happens, the enzymatic activity of
ATP synthase synthesizes ATP from ADP.