Mitochondria: Maintenance of environment within the cells

Hi guys, welcome back!!!! Merry Christmas!!! 

Today, I will be telling more about Mitochondria and it functions. Like I mentioned in the previous post, Mitochondria is like the 'power house' of our cells which generate large amount of energy in the form of ATP which allow normal cellular metabolism. But that not all, Mitochondria also help to maintain the environment within our cells!

Have a look at the picture below:


Now do you have a better ideas what does Mitochondria do other than generating ATP?? That right! Mitochondria also help to control the amount of Ca²⁺in the cells.

Calcium ion is use as signaling molecules within the cell. Perturbation in the normal function of mitochondria can affect normal cell functions. In addition, over stimulation of Ca²⁺can initiate a cascade of event that lead to cell death. For example,when there is a failure in cellular homeostasis of the nervous system, the ions concentration for Na+, K+, Cl and Ca2+ within the nerve cells will be disturbed, causing the transmission of electrical signals across the nervous system to be ineffective.

RECAP: 

Let recap what do you learn so far on the functions of mitochondria.

1. The first important and crucial function of Mitochondria is to generate ATP for our cells to carry out normal cellular metabolism. To generate large amount of ATPs, the Mitochondria use the Electron transport chain(ETC) to oxidise NADH and FADH2. This process is known as oxidative phosphorylation.

 2. The second important and crucial function of Mitochondria is to maintain the environment within the cells by controlling the amount of Ca2+ ions in the cells 


Important: Any alteration or dysfunction in these two functions can lead to cells dead.

Extra information:
-Dysfunction in the ETC can lead to ATP depletion, which will then lead to necrotic cell death. 

-Other forms of mitochondrial injury may lead to the release of pro-apoptotic factors from mitochondria, which will initiate the cascade to apoptotic cell death



Here is two video on Mitochondria and Calcium Homeostasis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Uyw5YuB4Rc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy-74lohOpE

If you have the time, go view those two videos. It will allow you to understand what we learn better.


Today we will stop here. In the next post, I will be sharing a little bit on the history of mitochondria and the dna in mitochondria. Feel free to give any comments okay!! hahaha
Have a nice and 짱(jjang) chirstmas!!! 


References:
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ejphar
http://www.newcastle-mitochondria.com/mitochondria/what-do-mitochondria-do/