Answer
Mitochondria are ovoid shaped double-membrane organelles of eukaryotic cells. They have been called the " power house of the cell" because most of the cells ATP molecules ( the energy currency) are synthesized in mitochondria.
The inner membrane of mitochondria forms folds or cristae which greatly extend the internal surface area of the structure. This facilitates the work of enzymes of the Kreb's cycle which are located on these cristae., and in the matrix pyruvate derived from glucose is used to generate ATP molecules. Also, fatty acids are transformed into acetyl-co-A which is passed through the electron transfer chain of reactions to also produce ATP molecules. Mitochondria have their own DNA and RNA-- derived solely from maternal predecessors-- and this makes mitochondria almost self-sufficient in their metabolic reactions The viscous fluid in the matrix of the nitochodia is also important as the site of synthesis of ribosomal proteins for replication and transcription
Work Step by Step
Mitochondria also have a role in cell death. They produce cytochrome C which can interact with enzymes in the cytosol to release the caspases cascade that causes programmed cell death.
