What is the role of mitochondria in energy storage and metabolism?
Mitochondria are vital organelles in energy metabolism. They are the site of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation, processes that generate the bulk of ATP. Mitochondria also play a crucial role in β-oxidation of fatty acids, converting them into acetyl-CoA, which enters the TCA cycle. Thus, they are essential for converting stored energy into a usable form.
