Biomaterial Database

Evolution: 'Millefoglie' origin of mitochondrial cristae. 2023

Paul A M Michels, and Michael L Ginger

Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK. Electronic address: paul.michels@ed.ac.uk.

Striated intracytoplasmic membranes in alphaproteobacteria are often reminiscent of millefoglie pastries. A new study reveals a protein complex homologous to that responsible for mitochondrial cristae formation drives intracytoplasmic membrane formation, thereby establishing bacterial ancestry for the biogenesis of mitochondrial cristae.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008928	Mitochondria	Semiautonomous, self-reproducing organelles that occur in the cytoplasm of all cells of most, but not all, eukaryotes. Each mitochondrion is surrounded by a double limiting membrane. The inner membrane is highly invaginated, and its projections are called cristae. Mitochondria are the sites of the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, which result in the formation of ATP. They contain distinctive RIBOSOMES, transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER); AMINO ACYL T RNA SYNTHETASES; and elongation and termination factors. Mitochondria depend upon genes within the nucleus of the cells in which they reside for many essential messenger RNAs (RNA, MESSENGER). Mitochondria are believed to have arisen from aerobic bacteria that established a symbiotic relationship with primitive protoeukaryotes. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Mitochondrial Contraction,Mitochondrion,Contraction, Mitochondrial,Contractions, Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Contractions
D051336	Mitochondrial Membranes	The two lipoprotein layers in the MITOCHONDRION. The outer membrane encloses the entire mitochondrion and contains channels with TRANSPORT PROTEINS to move molecules and ions in and out of the organelle. The inner membrane folds into cristae and contains many ENZYMES important to cell METABOLISM and energy production (MITOCHONDRIAL ATP SYNTHASE).	Inner Mitochondrial Membrane,Mitochondrial Membrane, Inner,Mitochondrial Membrane, Outer,Outer Mitochondrial Membrane,Inner Mitochondrial Membranes,Membrane, Inner Mitochondrial,Membrane, Mitochondrial,Membrane, Outer Mitochondrial,Membranes, Inner Mitochondrial,Membranes, Mitochondrial,Membranes, Outer Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Membrane,Mitochondrial Membranes, Inner,Mitochondrial Membranes, Outer,Outer Mitochondrial Membranes
D024101	Mitochondrial Proteins	Proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome or proteins encoded by the nuclear genome that are imported to and resident in the MITOCHONDRIA.	Proteins, Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Protein,Protein, Mitochondrial