Why Is Mitochondria Important?

Mitochondria are a key organelle responsible for aerobic respiration in eukaryotic cells. The majority of the energy that eukaryotes rely on is obtained through the use of mitochondria, thus emphasizing the importance of these dynamic organelles. Due to the importance in respiration mitochondria are found in high abundance in oxidative tissues such as heart, kidney, and the brain1,2 3. Inner mitochondrial membrane plays host to a collection of enzyme complexes termed the electron transport chain (ETC) that are the source of ATP generation1,4. Due to the importance of their role in the cell, its essential that the mitochondria pool in cells in healthy and is maintained. This is done through two opposing processes, mitochondria biogenesis and mitochondrial autophagy. Mitochondrial biogenesis is the synthesis of mitochondria where the opposing pathway is the degradation of damaged mitochondria through macro autophagy here by known as mitophagy. When
While increasing the mitochondrial pool is impertinent for a healthy pool of mitochondria with exercise, removing the damaged mitochondria is equally as important. During exercise it is well known that mitochondria release ROS that can be harmful when accumulated 76. If the dysfunctional mitochondria are not removed efficiently it will lead to an accumulation of harmful organelles. Studies have examined improper removal of mitochondria and suggest that an accumulation leads to incomplete fatty acid oxidation and skeletal muscle insulin resistance77. Krieger et al. suggested the sarcolemmal portion of the mitochondria is improved with exercise78. The modification of mitochondrial pools is done by two opposing processes mentioned above, mitochondrial biogenesis creating new functioning mitochondria and mitophagy the degradation of dysfunctional or old