Mitochondria: Structure, Biogenesis and Transducing Functions

A. Structure of Mitochondria.- 1. General Organization.- a) Conventional Thin Section Electron Microscopy.- b) Negative Staining Techniques.- c) Freeze-Cleavage.- 2. Special Organization and Inclusions.- a) Prismatic or Atypical Cristae.- b) Filaments and Tubules.- c) Amorphous Inclusions.- d) Intramitochondrial Granules.- e) DNA Containing Fibers.- 3. Topography of the Mitochondrial Transducing Systems.- B. The Assembly of Mitochondria.- 1. Mitochondrial DNA and Its Genetic Role.- 2. Transcription of the Mitochondrial DNA.- a) mRNA.- b) The Machinery for Transcription and Translation.- c) Turnover of Mitochondrial RNA.- 3. Protein Synthesis.- a) Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis and Its Characteristics.- b) Role of Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis.- c) Synthesis of Specific Proteins by Mitochondria.- 4. Synthesis of Phospholipids.- 5. Mitochondrial Assembly.- 6. Interactions in the Assembly of Mitochondrial Components.- 7. Regulation of Nuclear Genome by Mitochondria.- C. Transducing Functions of Mitochondria.- 1. The Respiratory Assemblies and Oxidative Phosphorylation.- a) General Organization.- b) Energetics of the System; Redox Potentials.- 2. Dissection of the Respiratory Assemblies and the Components Responsible for Coupling.- 3. Mechanisms of Oxidative Phosphorylation.- a) Coupling by Ion Fluxes in the Direction of the Electro-Chemical Potential Gradient.- b) Other Models of Coupling Involving High Energy States.- c) Chemical Intermediate and Conformational Models in Phosphorylation.- 4. Permeability and Transport.- a) The Transport of Cations and General Models of Transport.- b) Anion and Amino Acid Transport.- c) Adenine Nucleotide Transport.- d) Carriers and Ionophores.