mitochondria

Function

• major energy-producing organelle of cells
• the inner mitochondrial membrane contains the electron transport chain, responsible for generating the majority of cellular ATP
• the citric acid cycle, the final common pathway for oxidation of fuel molecules - amino acids, fatty acids, & carbohydrates, occurs in the mitochondrial matrix

Structure

• fusion & fission of mitochondria occurs in many cell types, contributing to mitochondria morphology

Pathology

• mitochondrial myopathies result from mitochondrial disorders
• mitochondria have been implicated in free radical diseases & aging
• sensitivity of mtDNA to aberrant ribonucleotide incorporation
  • imbalanced nucleotide metabolism may lead to age- & mtDNA-dependent inflammatory responses the senescence-associated secretory phenotype

Genetics

• mitochondria have 2-10 copies of a genome, the mitochondrial genome
• however, most mitochondrial proteins are of nucelar origin

More general terms

• Ca+2 sequestering compartment

Additional terms

• citric acid cycle, Krebs cycle or tricarboxylic acid [TCA] cycle
• electron transport
• mitochondrial genome
• mitochondrial myopathy