Mitochondria are found in nearly all eukaryotic cells, including those of plants, animals, fungi, and most unicellular eukaryotes. Some cells have a single large mitochondrion, but more often a cell has hundreds or even thousands of mitochondria; the number correlates with the cell’s level of metabolic activity.
For example, cells that move or contract have proportionally more mitochondria per volume than less active cells.
Each of the two membranes enclosing the mitochondrion is a phospholipid bilayer with a unique collection of embedded proteins.
The outer membrane is smooth, but the inner membrane is convoluted, with infoldings called cristae.
The inner membrane divides the mitochondrion into two internal compartments. The first is the intermembrane space, the narrow region between the inner and outer membranes.
The second compartment, the mitochondrial matrix, is enclosed by the inner membrane. The matrix contains many different enzymes as well as the mitochondrial DNA and ribosomes.
Enzymes in the matrix catalyze some of the steps of cellular respiration.
Other proteins that function in respiration, including the enzyme that makes ATP, are built into the inner membrane.
As highly folded surfaces, the cristae give the inner mitochondrial membrane a large surface area, thus enhancing the productivity of cellular respiration.
#Mitochondria #Structureofmitochondria and #FunctionofMitochondria | #Biology #ScienceWallah #VigyanClasses Class 9th and 11 lecture | ( #Thepowerhouseofcell )
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