Mitochondria and Cellular Respiration Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to the mitochondria and cellular respiration processes.

Mitochondria

Known as the powerhouse of the cell, mitochondria are organelles that produce energy (ATP) through cellular respiration.

Endosymbiosis Hypothesis

The theory that mitochondria originated from free-living prokaryotes that were taken up by ancient anaerobic eukaryotic cells.

Phagocytosis

A process by which a cell engulfs particles or other cells, facilitating digestion and horizontal gene transfer.

Cristae

The inner membrane folds of mitochondria that increase the surface area for cellular respiration processes.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

A small circular DNA molecule found in mitochondria, encoding some of the organelle's proteins and functional RNA.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate, powered by the proton gradient created by the electron transport chain.

Oxidation Reduction (Redox) Reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons; oxidation involves losing electrons, while reduction involves gaining electrons.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes that transfer electrons and pump protons to create a proton gradient for ATP synthesis.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of enzymatic reactions that occur in the mitochondrial matrix, where acetyl CoA is oxidized to produce NADH, FADH2, and CO2.

Signal Sequences

Short peptide sequences that direct proteins to their appropriate cellular destinations, such as mitochondria or the nucleus.