Double-membraned organelles found in the cytoplasm of most eukaryotic cells, universally recognized as the cellular powerhouses responsible for generating the vast majority of the cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, through oxidative phosphorylation. These organelles are central to metabolic health, cellular signaling, and the overall rate of aging.
Origin
The term originates from the Greek words mitos meaning thread and chondrion meaning granule, referring to the thread-like or granular appearance of these structures when first observed under a microscope. Their critical role in cellular respiration was elucidated over the course of the 20th century.
Mechanism
Mitochondria function by utilizing the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain, processes that break down metabolic substrates like glucose and fatty acids in the presence of oxygen. This highly efficient biochemical cascade creates a proton gradient across the inner membrane, driving the ATP synthase enzyme to phosphorylate ADP, thereby providing the necessary energy currency for all cellular and hormonal processes.
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