title: Mitochondrial form and function.
abstract: Mitochondria are one of the major ancient endomembrane systems in eukaryotic cells. Owing to their ability to produce ATP through respiration, they became a driving force in evolution. As an essential step in the process of eukaryotic evolution, the size of the mitochondrial chromosome was drastically reduced, and the behaviour of mitochondria within eukaryotic cells radically changed. Recent advances have revealed how the organelle's behaviour has evolved to allow the accurate transmission of its genome and to become responsive to the needs of the cell and its own dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nunnari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034281:Dynamins / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D053140:Organelle Shape; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D034281:Dynamins