.Mitochondrial SubstructureInside thespace enclosed by the inner membrane is the matrix. Then,glucose enters the cell by
special molecules in the
membrane called “glucosetransporters”. This pathway is called glycolysis and it occurs in thecytoplasm outside the
mitochondria. We need to continue the breakdownprocess with the Kreb’s cycle inside the mitochondria in order to getenough ATP to run all the cell functions. You can nowappreciate the importance of the cristae....not only do they contain andorganize the electron transport chain and the ATP pumps, they also serve toseparate the matrix from the space that will contain the hydrogen ions,allowing the gradient needed to drive the pump. This will result in afraction containing only the inner membrane and the matrix. With this method,one can see the elementary particles projecting from the inner surface of thecristae. These are the ATP synthase molecules (or elementary particles)discussed in the previous section. Thecartoons in the previous section showed cytochrome C lying just outside theinner membrane. In fact, if the outer membrane is removed, often the cytochromeC is lost and must be replaced to promote function of the mitoplast.Note thatthe enzyme reaction product is confined to the cristae and in fact delineatesthe cristae. Then, glucose enters the cell by special molecules in the membranecalled “glucose transporters”.The firstpathway requires no oxygen and is called anaerobicYou can nowappreciate the importance of the cristae....not only do they contain andorganize the electron transport chain and the ATP pumps, they also serve toseparate the matrix from the space that will contain the hydrogen ions,allowing the gradient needed to drive the pump. This will result in afraction containing only the inner membrane and the matrix. With this method,one can see the elementary particles projecting from the inner surface of thecristae. These are the ATP synthase molecules (or elementary particles)discussed in the previous section. Thecartoons in the previous section showed cytochrome C lying just outside theinner membrane. Inside the space enclosed by the inner membrane is thematrix. The above cartoon shows the diagram of the mitochondrialmembranes and the enclosed compartmentsThe food weeat is oxidized to produce high-energy electrons that are converted to storedenergy. This pathway is calledglycolysis and it occurs in the cytoplasm outside the mitochondria. Weneed to continue the breakdown process with the Kreb’s cycle inside themitochondria in order to get enough ATP to run all the cell functions Theevents that occur inside and outside mitochondria are diagrammed in the abovecartoon. The wholeidea behind respiration in the mitochondria is to use the Kreb’s cycle (alsocalled the citric acid cycle) to get as many electrons out of the food we eatas possible. The third molecule, of course, is oxygen. Eventually, theprocess produces the 4 carbon oxaloacetate again. The NADH and FADHessentially serve as a ferry in the lateral plane of the membrane diffusingfrom one complex to the next. This creates a gradient across the inner membranewith a higher concentration of Hydrogen ions in the intercristae space (this isthe space between the inner and outer membranes). The following cartoon showsthe individual complexes in the electron transport chain. The electrons are carriedfrom complex to complex by ubiquinone and cycochrome C.You can nowappreciate the importance of the cristae....not only do they contain andorganize the electron transport chain and the ATP pumps, they also serve toseparate the matrix from the space that will contain the hydrogen ions,allowing the gradient needed to drive the pump. This will result in a fraction containing only theinner membrane and the matrix. With this method, one can see the elementaryparticles projecting from the inner surface of the cristae