Mitochondria and Chloroplast

Organelles present in plant cells include mitochondria and chloroplast. In a mammal, however, the chloroplast is missing, but mitochondria are present in both. Mitochondria use oxygen and nutrients to produce ATP, which provides energy to the cell. In a plant cell, the chloroplast is where photosynthesis takes place. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between mitochondria and chloroplast.

What are Mitochondria?

Mitochondria, sometimes known as the “Powerhouse of the Cell,” are a double membrane-bound organelle present in all eukaryotes. They operate as the cell’s “digestive system” and are present inside the cytoplasm. They are essential in the breakdown of nutrients and generating energy-rich molecules for the cell. The mitochondria are home to many of the metabolic events during cellular respiration. The terms “mitochondria” and “chondrion” come from the Greek words “mitos” and “chondrion,” respectively, which mean “thread” and “granules-like.” Richard Altmann, a German pathologist, was the first to describe it in 1890.

Mitochondrial Structure

An outer membrane, an inner membrane, and a gel-like substance known as the matrix make up the structure. The intermembrane gap separates the outer and inner membranes, which are composed of proteins and phospholipid layers. The mitochondrion’s outer membrane comprises porins, which are unique proteins that coat the mitochondrion’s surface. Ions, nutrition molecules, and energy molecules like ADP and ATP molecules pass through it readily.

Cristae

The structure of mitochondria’s inner membrane is rather complicated. It features multiple folds that produce cristae, a layered structure that helps increase the surface area inside the organelle. The inner membrane’s cristae and proteins help synthesise ATP molecules. Only oxygen and ATP molecules can pass through the inner membrane. The inner membrane of mitochondria hosts a variety of chemical processes.

Mitochondrial Matrix

The mitochondrial matrix is a viscous fluid that comprises enzymes and proteins in a combination. Ribosomes, inorganic ions, mitochondrial DNA, nucleotide cofactors, and organic compounds are included. In creating ATP molecules, the enzymes found in the matrix play a significant role.

Functions of Mitochondria

The primary purpose of mitochondria is to create energy via the oxidative phosphorylation process. It’s also a part of the following procedure: Controls the cell’s metabolic activities. Encourages the formation of new cells and the proliferation of existing ones. Aids in the detoxification of ammonia in liver cells. Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a process through which cells die. It is responsible for the formation of some blood components and hormones such as testosterone and oestrogen. Assists in maintaining a sufficient calcium ion concentration inside the cell compartments. It also plays a role in cell differentiation, cell signalling, cell senescence, cell cycle regulation, and cell proliferation. Mitochondrial Disorders are a group of diseases that are linked to mitochondria. Any abnormality in mitochondrial activity can directly impact human health, but it can be challenging to diagnose since symptoms vary from person to person. Mitochondrial disorders may be quite severe, and in certain situations, they can even lead to organ failure. Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a process through which cells die. It is responsible for the formation of some blood components and hormones such as testosterone and oestrogen. Assists in maintaining a sufficient calcium ion concentration inside the cell compartments. It also plays a role in cell differentiation, cell signalling, cell senescence, cell cycle regulation, and cell proliferation.

What is a chloroplast?

Plants and algae with green leaves contain chloroplasts. Their function is to produce food. The mesophyll cells in the plant’s leaves contain these enzymes. This is because they have a lot of chlorophyll, which helps them capture sunlight. Cell organelles found in animals usually do not have this function. Unlike mitochondria, chloroplasts have their own DNA outside the cell, making them semi autonomous. They also make the proteins and lipids needed to make the chloroplast membrane.

Chloroplast Structure

Chloroplasts are found in all higher plants. The chloroplast has a diameter of 4-6 m and a thickness of 1-3 m, respectively. They’re a double-membrane organelle with three spaces: outer, inner, and intermembrane. Within a chloroplast, the grana and stroma are two distinct sections. Thylakoids or lamellae, which are stacks of disc-shaped formations, make up grana. The grana, which contains chlorophyll pigments, are the functional units of chloroplasts. Stroma is a homogenous matrix that incorporates grana and is similar to the cytoplasm, which is where all organelles in cells are lodged. The following components make up the chloroplast structure: Membrane Envelope Inner and exterior lipid bilayer membranes make up this structure. The stroma is separated from the intermembrane gap by the inner membrane. Intermembrane Space is a word used to describe the space between two membranes. Between the inner and outer membranes is a region called the intermembrane space. The Thylakoid System is a kind of thylakoid cell (Lamellae) In the stroma, the system is stalled. Thylakoids or lamellae are a cluster of membrane sacs. The chlorophyll pigments contained in thylakoid membranes are green in colour. It is the visual representation of the photosynthesis process’s light-dependent processes. The thylakoids are stacked into grana, with each granum containing about 10-20 thylakoids. Stroma It’s a clear, alkaline, aqueous, protein-rich fluid found within the chloroplast’s inner membrane that surrounds the grana. Grana Grana is a stack of lamellae in plastids. These are the locations where light energy is converted into chemical energy. Chlorophyll It’s a green photosynthetic component that aids the photosynthesis process.

Functions of Chloroplast

The roles of chloroplasts are as follows:

• The chloroplast’s primary job is to synthesise food through the photosynthesis process
• Light energy is absorbed and converted into chemical energy
• The process of photosynthesis produces ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) obtained from the air is used to synthesise carbon and sugar during the Calvin Cycle, or the nighttime photosynthesis process

Conclusion

If one may use the word, these two buildings represent markers of two principles of life. One is self-sufficient, producing its own food, while the other is reliant on the former as a major food supply but has a significantly more complicated and advanced style of living in many other ways.