mitochondria

Mitochondrial structure

 inner mitochondrial membrane

Mitochondrial genome

 structure
 maitenance
 replication
 mitochondrial transcription
 mitochondrial traduction
 elongation
 termination
 co-traductional phenomenons

Mitochondrial functions

 energy production/ROS (rective oxygen species)
 programmed cell death (apoptosis)
 calcium homeostasis
 gluconeogenesis
 urea cycle
 lipid synthesis
 fatty acid oxidation

Mitochondria and apoptosis

 Involvement of mitochondria in apotposis is regulated by proteins of the Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphocytic-leukaemia proto-oncogene 2 or BCL2) family. These proteins act by altering the properties of mitochondrial membranes to facilitate the release of apoptogenic proteins like cytochrome c and Smac/Diablo that, once released into the cytosol, are crucial for activating the caspase cascade of cell degradation.

 CL (cardiolipin), an unusual membrane lipid that is predominantly present in mitochondria, is required for the action of major pro-apoptotic proteins like Bid and Bax. Bid may be involved in the metabolic cycle of CL re-modelling.

Mitochondrial dynamics

Mitochondrial organelles constantly fuse and divide, and are actively transported to specific subcellular locations. These dynamic processes are essential for mammalian development, and defects lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

Pathology

 mitochondrial lesions
 mitochondrial diseases

See also

 mitochondrial fusion
 mitochondrial genesis
 mitochondrial death
 mitochondria and cellular death (mitochondria and apoptosis)

References

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