Page 70 - PCC10

Peculiarities of Mitochondria
• Most genes needed for mitochondrial function are coded by the nucleus; traverse mitochondrial membrane to function
• Mitochondrial numbers can change depending on energy needs:
– High energy need: grow and divide
– Low energy need: destroyed and become inactive
Wallace, 1992
Mitochondrial Function not Limited to Just Being an “Energy Plant”
• Redox functions
• Oxygen sensing
• Fatty‐acid oxidation (B‐oxidation) • Calcium hemostasis
• Cell Signaling
• Programmed Cell Death
Van Blerkom J Mitochondrion 2011
Page 64 of 135
70