Biology Forum › Cell Biology › Metabolism and Mitochondria
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- November 17, 2009 at 11:29 pm #12293
banaji727ParticipantIf you were looking at different types of cells with a transmission electron microscope and noticed certain cells that had no mitochondria, what could you predict about their metabolism?
At first I was going to say that metabolism isn’t possible without the mitochondria because they provide enzymes important to metabolism, but recalled my teacher mentioning something about peroxisomes. I know that peroxisomes also provide enzymes but do they relate to metabolism? So I have no idea how to answer this question.
- November 17, 2009 at 11:53 pm #95011jonmoultonParticipant
Consider what kind of energy-generating catabolic processes require mitochondria. Also, what kind of ATP-generating catabolism occurs in the cytosol? Somehow, a cell needs ATP energy. If it can’t get it from the mitochondrial processes, then it must generate that energy from cytosolic processes. What does that leave?
This assumes that the mitochondrion-free cells you are observing are nucleated. If they are prokaryotes, all bets are off. Prokaryotes do some outrageous metabolic tricks with only a plasma membrane to set up potential gradients.
- November 18, 2009 at 11:52 am #95026biohazardParticipant
There is also a very common cell type in all mammals that lacks mitochondria. Though it’s energy politics are bit different from the mainstream anyway…
Think about blood and one of its main functions!
- November 18, 2009 at 5:00 pm #95032jonmoultonParticipant
Biohazard, you would bring up the case of a eukaryotic cell that has no nucleus. Just when I think I’ve written something tidy, the real biology appears…
- November 19, 2009 at 11:04 am #95065biohazardParticipantquote jonmoulton:Biohazard, you would bring up the case of a eukaryotic cell that has no nucleus. Just when I think I’ve written something tidy, the real biology appears…
Heh, I thought you just wanted to concentrate on nucleated cells and I was thinking that maybe I should mention also these anucleated ones, just in case the original poster would be interested about them as well 🙂
- November 19, 2009 at 2:14 pm #95084banaji727Participant
thanks guys…much appreciated
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