What Is The Role Of The Mitochondria In A Cell – Understand what cristae mitochondria are. Learn the function of cristae in mitochondria and understand why the inner mitochondrial membrane is folded. Updated: 23/10/2021

Cristae are folds within the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondria have two membranes: an outer membrane without folds and an inner membrane with cristae.

What Is The Role Of The Mitochondria In A Cell

Cristae are folds in the inner mitochondria membrane. These folds increase the surface area of ​​the inner membrane where energy production occurs. Therefore, an increased surface area allows the mitochondria to produce more energy at a faster rate.

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What are the cristae of mitochondria? Mitochondrial cristae are folds in the inner mitochondrial membrane, and crista is the singular form of cristae. Mitochondria are eukaryotic organelles known for their work in energy production. Organelles are specialized structures that perform various jobs in the cell, and eukaryotes are organisms (i.e., humans, other mammals, plants, fungi, etc.)

Mitochondrial cristae are the folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane. These folds increase the surface area of ​​the membrane and help make the mitochondrion more efficient.

In anatomy and zoology, the definition of cristae is a ridge or crest. The folds in the inner mitochondrial membrane resemble ridges that surround the mitochondrial matrix (the inner space of mitochondria). These ridges or folds extend beyond aesthetics to serve a greater purpose.

Mitochondria are responsible for converting energy from food into available energy for the cell. This is accomplished through a series of reactions collectively known as cellular respiration. The end product of these reactions is a high-energy molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is used in many biochemical reactions because it has enough energy within its bonds to drive those reactions forward. Reactions that occur within mitochondria include:

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The electron transport chain and chemiosmosis are collectively known as oxidative phosphorylation, the final part of cellular respiration.

Oxidative phosphorylation occurs in and around the inner mitochondrial membrane. The form and function of cristae facilitate the energy production of this process. Oxidative phosphorylation involves the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.

Why is the inner mitochondrial membrane folded? Note that oxidative phosphorylation occurs along the mitochondrial membrane, and cristae are the folds within the same membrane. The addition of folds increases the surface area, allowing more of the membrane to fit within the confines of the mitochondria. An increase in surface area increases the number of oxidative phosphorylation reactions that can occur at once. Therefore, an increase in surface area also increases the ability of each mitochondrion to produce energy. Scientists also believe that the shape of the inner mitochondrial membrane often changes according to different physiological conditions within the cell.

The addition of folds to increase surface area is a common tactic that many parts of the body use to increase functionality. This can be seen in the:

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Mitochondrial cristae are folds of the mitochondrial inner membrane that provide an increase in surface area. This creates a larger space for processes that pass over this membrane. The electron transport chain and chemiosmosis are the processes that help produce ATP in the final steps of cellular respiration. The following image is the mitochondrion, showing the inner membrane, including the cristae:

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Mitochondrial cristae function ultimately produces more ATP at a faster rate and equips cells to meet the body’s energy needs. Oxidative phosphorylation is the final part of cellular respiration and works in response to the body’s demand for energy. Mitochondrial cristae provide the structure, function and flexibility necessary to provide sufficient energy.

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Cristae are folds in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondria are organelles in eukaryotic cells. The main function of cristae is to increase the surface area of ​​the mitochondrial membrane. This allows membrane processes to produce more energy at a faster rate. In this case, energy is produced in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by a process called cellular respiration, a group of pathways that produces usable energy from simple food molecules. Essentially, the cell needs cristae to make enough ATP at the same time.

Oxidative phosphorylation is the final part of cellular respiration that consists of the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. The electron transport chain creates a proton potential in the intermembrane space. Chemiosmosis is the process where the electrochemical gradient of accumulated protons runs through ATP synthase to produce ATP.

Therefore, mitochondrial cristae provide the structural support and functional space to produce ATP and meet the body’s energy needs.

Before we can explain the functioning of the crista (plural = cristae), we need to review what a mitochondrion does. The mitochondrion is the cellular organelle where cellular respiration takes place. Cellular respiration is the process that creates chemical energy in the form of ATP from simple food molecules. These food molecules, especially glucose, are first broken down in the cytosol outside the mitochondrion during glycolysis.

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After glycolysis, the remains of the glucose molecules make it into the mitochondria. This starts aerobic cellular respiration. First, the citric acid cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix; this releases some ATP and creates NADH and FADH2 electron carrier molecules that are passed on to the next stage, the electron transport chain.

The electron transport chain uses electrons from NADH and FADH2. These electrons are passed through proteins embedded in the membrane and produce molecules of H2O. H+ ions (protons) from these carriers are carried ‘across’ the inner membrane and into the intermembrane space between the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes.

The buildup of H+ ions in the intermembrane space creates a proton potential. During chemiosmosis, the protons pass through an ATP synthase protein in the inner membrane. When they do, the ATP synthase turns to make ATP from ADP and phosphate. Thus, the proton potential provides the energy for making ATP.

Cristae are folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The electron transport chain and chemiosmosis takes place on this membrane as part of cellular respiration to make ATP and can be seen in the diagram:

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The cristae increase the surface area of ​​the inner membrane, allowing faster production of ATP because there are more places to carry out the process.

So, how do these folds increase surface area? Imagine a square membrane with a perimeter of 800 nanometers. Each side is 200 nm (billionth of a meter) long. If the height were 25 nm, there would be exactly 20,000 square nm of surface area for the production of ATP. If the inner membrane of the mitochondrion were square, it would have a limited surface area for ATP production. Notice in the following diagram the ATP synthase molecules that allow H+ ions to pass through.

Now, if we increase the perimeter of that membrane by adding a fold, we get more surface area without taking up more space. Let’s say that the new fold adds another 200 nm to the perimeter, at the same height of 25 nm. This increases the surface area by 5 000 square nm, up to a total of 25 000. The crista is the fold that allows the embedding of more ATP synthase molecules in the membrane, and therefore more ATP production at the same time.

Let’s review. Mitochondrial cristae are folds of the mitochondrial inner membrane that provide an increase in surface area. With more cristae, the mitochondrion provides more locations for ATP production to occur. In fact, without them, the mitochondrion would not be able to keep up with the cell’s ATP needs.

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This concept of greater surface area also works in other parts of the human body. For example, the lining of the intestine has structures called villi that increase the surface area for the absorption of nutrients.

Cellular Respiration: Cellular respiration is the process that creates chemical energy in the form of ATP from simple food molecules.

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