home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Through the breakdown of
- food-stuffs, mitochondria
- release energy to the cell in the
- form of ATP and thus make
- possible all the life activities
- of the cell that require energy.
- Mitochondria have a double-
- layered membrane. Whereas the
- outer membrane of a
- mitochondrion is smooth, the inner
- membrane has many folds called
- cristae. The cristae are lined by
- respiratory assemblies,
- suborganelles containing the enzymes
- that break down food-stuffs and
- generate ATP. In general, cells that
- have high energy needs have more
- mitochondria, and, in turn, their
- mitochondria have more cristae and
- thus more respiratory assemblies.
-
-