Ageing, Mitochondria and Diet

Abstract

     The mitochondrion, as an organelle, is no doubt a specialized one for respiration and oxidative phosphorylation (1).  The organelle also performs many other important functions.  It has been documented (2) that mitochondria synthesize heme, lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides as well as mediating the intracellular homeostasis of inorganic ions.  Although, respiration and ATP – synthesis are two main functions of mitochondria but, under anaerobic conditions, the two functions may just be a tip of the iceberg relative to the totality of metabolic functions of the cell which the organelles, mitochondria, mediate(3).  In summary, it is now known that mitochondria are essential organelles which cannot be lost from the cell without the loss of cell viability.  For eukaryotes, “No mitochondrion, no cell!” (4) 

     There is absolutely no doubting the fact that after the nucleus, the mitochondrion  is next, considering essentiality for life, for they alone possess the self-replicating molecules, Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), which carry the blue prints for life.