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Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. These organelles , found in all eukaryotic cells, are the powerhouse of the cell. [ 1 ] The mitochondria, and thus mitochondrial DNA, are passed exclusively from mother to offspring through the egg cell .
Mitochondrial matrix has a pH of about 7.8, which is higher than the pH of the intermembrane space of the mitochondria, which is around 7.0–7.4. [5] Mitochondrial DNA was discovered by Nash and Margit in 1963. One to many double stranded mainly circular DNA is present in mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondrial DNA is 1% of total DNA of a cell.
The inner mitochondrial membrane is compartmentalized into numerous folds called cristae, which expand the surface area of the inner mitochondrial membrane, enhancing its ability to produce ATP. For typical liver mitochondria, the area of the inner membrane is about five times as large as that of the outer membrane.
Cellular compartments in cell biology comprise all of the closed parts within the cytosol of a eukaryotic cell, usually surrounded by a single or double lipid layer membrane. These compartments are often, but not always, defined as membrane-bound organelles. The formation of cellular compartments is called compartmentalization.
Mitochondrial diseases range in severity from asymptomatic to fatal, and are most commonly due to inherited rather than acquired mutations of mitochondrial DNA. A given mitochondrial mutation can cause various diseases depending on the severity of the problem in the mitochondria and the tissue the affected mitochondria are in.
As a result, mitochondria, within such cells, demonstrate a non-uniform distribution, and can be strategically localized in regions with the greatest energy needs. [25] In order to support the substantial metabolic demands of neurovascular coupling, astrocytic endfeet are loaded and packed with elongated and branched mitochondria. [26]
"Muscle is the most metabolically active tissue we have, so losing it may cause weight creep over time," says Alexander. At the same time, your metabolism naturally slows down with age.
A 2010 archeological study has found that cementum has five times the amount of mitochondrial DNA compared to dentin, which is commonly sampled. [21] Teeth are increasingly utilized as a source of nuclear DNA to aid identification of human remains.