The Function Of Mitochondria In A Cell – Mitochondria are often called the powerhouses of cells. Their main task is to generate the energy needed to power the cells. However, there is more to mitochondria than energy production.
Mitochondria, present in almost all types of human cells, are essential for our survival. They produce most of our adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s energy currency.
The Function Of Mitochondria In A Cell
Mitochondria are also involved in other tasks, such as signaling between cells and cell death, otherwise known as apoptosis.
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In this article, we’ll look at how mitochondria work, what they look like, and explain what happens when they stop doing their job properly.
Mitochondria are small, often between 0.75 and 3 micrometers, and cannot be seen under a microscope unless stained.
Unlike other organelles (miniature organs in the cell), they have two membranes, an outer and an inner. Each Membrane has different functions.
Outer Membrane: Small molecules can pass freely through the outer membrane. This outer part includes proteins called porins, which form channels that allow proteins to pass through. The outer membrane also hosts many enzymes with a wide variety of functions.
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Inner membrane: This membrane contains proteins that have several roles. Since there are no porins in the inner membrane, it is impermeable to most molecules. Molecules can cross the inner membrane only in special membrane transporters. The inner membrane is where the most ATP is generated.
Cristae: These are folds of the inner membrane. They increase the surface area of the membrane and thereby increase the space available for chemical reactions.
Matrix: This is the space inside the inner membrane. As it contains hundreds of enzymes, it is important in the production of ATP. Mitochondrial DNA is stored here (see below).
Different types of cells have different numbers of mitochondria. For example, mature red blood cells have none at all, while liver cells can have more than 2,000. Cells that need a lot of energy tend to have a larger number of mitochondria. About 40 percent of the cytoplasm in heart muscle cells is occupied by mitochondria.
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Although mitochondria are often drawn as oval-shaped organelles, they are constantly dividing (fission) and joining (fusion). So these organelles are actually connected in ever-changing networks.
Although most of our DNA is stored in the nucleus of each cell, mitochondria have their own set of DNA. Interestingly, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is more similar to bacterial DNA.
The human genome, stored in the nuclei of our cells, contains about 3.3 billion base pairs, while mtDNA consists of
During reproduction, half of the child’s DNA comes from the father and half from the mother. The child always receives its mtDNA from the mother. Because of this, mtDNA has proven very useful for tracing genetic lineages.
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For example, mtDNA analyzes have shown that humans may have originated in Africa relatively recently, about 200,000 years ago, descendants of a common ancestor known as
In fact, only about 3 percent of the genes needed to make mitochondria go into its energy-producing equipment. The vast majority are involved in other jobs that are specific to the type of cell in which they are found.
ATP, a complex organic chemical found in all forms of life, is often called molecular currency because it drives metabolic processes. Most ATP is produced in the mitochondria through a series of reactions known as the citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle.
Mitochondria convert chemical energy from the food we eat into an energy form that the cell can use. This process is called oxidative phosphorylation.
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The Krebs cycle produces a chemical called NADH. NADH is used by cristae-embedded enzymes to produce ATP. In ATP molecules, energy is stored in the form of chemical bonds. When these chemical bonds are broken, the energy can be used.
Cell death, also called apoptosis, is an essential part of life. When cells become old or broken, they are removed and destroyed. Mitochondria help decide which cells are destroyed.
Mitochondria release cytochrome C, which activates caspase, one of the main enzymes involved in cell destruction during apoptosis.
Since some diseases, such as cancer, involve a defect in normal apoptosis, mitochondria are thought to play a role in the disease.
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Calcium is vital for many cellular processes. For example, the release of calcium back into the cell can trigger the release of a neurotransmitter from a nerve cell or hormones from an endocrine cell. Calcium is also necessary for muscle function, fertilization and blood clotting, among other things.
Because calcium is so important, it is tightly regulated by the cell. Mitochondria participate in this by quickly absorbing calcium ions and holding them until they are needed.
When we are cold, we shiver to keep warm. But the body can generate heat in other ways, one of which is through a tissue called brown fat.
, mitochondria can produce heat. This is known as non-shivering thermogenesis. Brown fat is found in the greatest amount in babies, when we are more susceptible to the cold, and levels slowly decrease as we age.
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However, most mitochondrial diseases are caused by mutations in nuclear DNA that affect the products that end up in the mitochondria. These mutations can be inherited or spontaneous.
When mitochondria stop working, the cell they are in loses energy. So symptoms can vary greatly depending on the type of cell. As a general rule, cells that need the most energy, such as heart muscle cells and the nervous system, are most affected by damaged mitochondria.
“Because mitochondria perform so many different functions in different tissues, there are literally hundreds of different mitochondrial diseases. […] Because of the complex interplay between hundreds of genes and cells that must work together to keep our metabolic machinery running smoothly, a feature of mitochondrial diseases is that the same mtDNA mutations may not cause the same diseases.”
In contrast, diseases that have the same symptoms but are caused by mutations in different genes are called phenocopies. An example of a phenocopy is Leigh syndrome, which can be caused by several different mutations.
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In recent years, researchers have investigated the link between mitochondrial dysfunction and aging. There are many theories of aging, but in the last decade the mitochondrial free radical theory of aging has become popular.
The theory is that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the mitochondria as a byproduct of energy production. These highly charged particles damage DNA, fats and proteins.
As a result of the damage caused by ROS, the functional parts of the mitochondria are damaged. When the mitochondria can no longer function as well, more ROS are produced, further exacerbating the damage.
Although correlations have been found between mitochondrial activity and aging, not all scientists have reached the same conclusions. Their exact role in the aging process is not yet known.
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Mitochondria are probably the most well-known organelles. And although they are popularly called powerhouse cells, they perform a wide range of actions about which much less is known. From storing calcium to producing heat, mitochondria are extremely important to the everyday functioning of our cells.
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Like all other cell organelles, the mitochondrion is a membrane-enclosed cell organelle located in the cytosol (intracellular fluid) of eukaryotic cells (cells that contain a nucleus). The structure consists of the following parts:
This consists of a semipermeable phospholipid bilayer composed of porins (protein structures). This layer is permeable to ions, ATP (adenosine triphosphate), ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and nutrient molecules.
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It is a complex but permeable membrane composed of complex molecules of the electron transport system, the ATP synthetase complex and transport proteins. This layer lets in oxygen, water and carbon dioxide.
Cristae are shelf-like folds in the inner membrane. They help expand the structure of the inner cell membrane when more space is needed to accommodate more mitochondrial DNA molecules.
This is the space between the outer membrane and the inner membrane. The intermembrane space is primarily responsible for oxidative phosphorylation.
The cytoplasmic matrix contains DNA molecules (responsible for cellular respiration), enzymes (responsible for citric acid cycle reactions), dissolved gases (such as oxygen, carbon dioxide), recyclable intermediates (serve as energy shuttles), and water.
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Now that we know the parts of mitochondria, let’s look at the important functions of this organelle. One of the main mitochondrial functions in the cell is cellular
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