Semiautonomous, self-reproducing organelles that occur in the cytoplasm of all cells of most, but not all, eukaryotes. Each mitochondrion is surrounded by a double limiting membrane. The inner membrane is highly invaginated, and its projections are called cristae. Mitochondria are the sites of the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, which result in the formation of ATP. They contain distinctive RIBOSOMES, transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER); AMINO ACYL T RNA SYNTHETASES; and elongation and termination factors. Mitochondria depend upon genes within the nucleus of the cells in which they reside for many essential messenger RNAs (RNA, MESSENGER). Mitochondria are believed to have arisen from aerobic bacteria that established a symbiotic relationship with primitive protoeukaryotes. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)
    

concept

An isolated mitochondrion fractured to reveal the internal structure. The internal membranes

Mitochondrion (blue) surrounded by cytoplasm

TEM of a mitochondrion

Mitochondria

Images

Catalogue

Mitochondrial respiration.

Oxidation and phosphorylation / edited by Ronald W. Estabrook and Maynard E. Pullman.

Biochemistry of mitochondria : colloquium ... / edited by E.C. Slater, Z. Kaniuga, L. Wojtczak.

Mitochondrial diseases : models and methods / Patrick Lestienne (ed.).

Mitochondrion