The Role of Mitochondria in Cellular Respiration and their role in in the Pharmacological Industry

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Published: Jan 1, 2025
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Mitochondria are double membraned, dynamic organelles found in almost all eukaryotic cells (Makinde et al., 2023). Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, and for a good reason. These organelles are responsible for the majority of the cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy. Mitochondria generate ATP through a process called oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which comprises two mitochondrial multi-subunit supercomplexes: the electron transport chain (ETC) and ATP synthase complex. Pathways that supply fuels for the generation of ATP include glycolysis, β-oxidation of fatty acids, and the urea cycle. Mitochondria play other essential roles in cellular physiology, including the generation of metabolic intermediates for biosynthetic pathways, such as fatty acids and amino acids; regulation of intracellular Ca2+; control of the cellular redox potential; regulation of cellular apoptosis; and modulation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (P. Skulachev et al., 2023). These roles highlight the importance of proper mitochondrial function, as aberrations or excesses in mitochondrial activities have been linked to many human diseases.

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Faris Omar Mudhish, Nawaf Marzog Alotibi, Fahad Obaid Alotaibi, Ahmad Mohammed Alsaawi, Fatimah Hamdan Suden Alanazi, Khalid Saud

Abstract

Mitochondria are double-membraned cytoplasmic organelles that are found in almost all eukaryotes. As the powerhouse of eukaryotic cells, mitochondria are responsible for generating most of the chemical energy supply required to fuel the cells’ complex biochemical reactions. They perform crucial roles in biosynthetic pathways, serving as an important source of building blocks for fatty acid, cholesterol, amino acid, glucose, and heme synthesis. Defective mitochondrial activities perturb energy supply and metabolic homeostasis and can trigger cell apoptosis, causing various human diseases. Mitochondria generate small molecule storage of chemical energy known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via electron transport-linked phosphorylation, a process also known as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). OXPHOS is the main source of ATP in eukaryotic cells, supplying about 90% of ATP for the cells.

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Issue
Vol. 48 No. 4 (2024)
Section
Articles