(a) What is the difference between two membranes of mitochondria? (b) What does mitochondrial matrix contain?
GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
(a) Mitochondrial membranes:
|
Feature |
Outer Membrane |
Inner Membrane |
|
Structure |
Smooth, continuous |
Highly folded into cristae |
|
Permeability |
Permeable to small molecules (contains porins) |
Selectively permeable; impermeable to most ions |
|
Proteins |
Fewer proteins (~50% by weight) |
Rich in proteins (~75% by weight) |
|
Function |
Protective boundary |
Houses electron transport chain, ATP synthase |
|
Surface area |
Limited |
Large (due to cristae) – increases efficiency |
(b) Mitochondrial matrix contains:
- Circular DNA (mtDNA) – maternal inheritance
- 70S ribosomes (prokaryotic type)
- RNA molecules (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA)
- Enzymes for:
- Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle)
- Fatty acid oxidation
- Amino acid metabolism
- Calcium ions, cofactors, intermediates
This composition supports the endosymbiotic theory of mitochondrial origin.
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