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In biology, homeostasis (British also homoeostasis; / h ɒ m i oʊ ˈ s t eɪ s ɪ s,-m i ə-/) is the state of steady internal physical and chemical conditions maintained by living systems. [1] This is the condition of optimal functioning for the organism and includes many variables, such as body temperature and fluid balance , being kept ...
A mitochondrion (pl. mitochondria) is an organelle found in the cells of most eukaryotes, such as animals, plants and fungi.Mitochondria have a double membrane structure and use aerobic respiration to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is used throughout the cell as a source of chemical energy. [2]
Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) represent regions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) which are reversibly tethered to mitochondria. These membranes are involved in import of certain lipids from the ER to mitochondria and in regulation of calcium homeostasis , mitochondrial function, autophagy and apoptosis .
In organelles like the ER and mitochondria, the response is slightly more complex. Both UPR mechanisms are conceptually similar in that they are activated by the accumulation of misfolded/ unfolded proteins and induce the translational upregulation of molecular chaperones and proteases to process proteins and restore homeostasis. [10] Despite ...
Mitochondria are commonly referred to as the cell's "powerhouses" because of their capacity to effectively produce ATP which is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis and metabolism.
The post-glycolytic reactions take place in the mitochondria in eukaryotic cells, and in the cytoplasm in prokaryotic cells. [ citation needed ] Although plants are net consumers of carbon dioxide and producers of oxygen via photosynthesis , plant respiration accounts for about half of the CO 2 generated annually by terrestrial ecosystems .
As the production of reactive oxygen species by these proton-pumping complexes is greatest at high membrane potentials, it has been proposed that mitochondria regulate their activity to maintain the membrane potential within a narrow range that balances ATP production against oxidant generation. [86]
As calculated by the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation, in order to maintain a normal pH of 7.4 in the blood (whereby the pK a of carbonic acid is 6.1 at physiological temperature), a 20:1 ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid must constantly be maintained; this homeostasis is mainly mediated by pH sensors in the medulla oblongata of the brain ...