cristae

(noun)

Cristae (singular crista) are the internal compartments formed by the inner membrane of a mitochondrion. They are studded with proteins, including ATP synthase and a variety of cytochromes.

Related Terms

Examples of cristae in the following topics:

  • Vestibulocochlear (VIII) Nerve

    • Three of these are the cristae, located in the ampullae of the semicircular canals.
    • Hair cells of the cristae activate afferent receptors in response to rotational acceleration.

  • Mitochondria

    • The mitochondrial inner membrane is extensive and involves substantial infoldings called cristae that resemble the textured, outer surface of alpha-proteobacteria.
    • The inner membrane contains folds, called cristae, which increase its surface area.

  • Opisthokonts: Animals and Fungi

    • Early phylogenies placed opisthokonts near the plants and other groups that have mitochondria with flat cristae, but this character varies.

  • The Evolution of Mitochondria

    • The mitochondrial inner membrane involves substantial infoldings called cristae that resemble the textured, outer surface of alpha-proteobacteria .
    • In this transmission electron micrograph of mitochondria in a mammalian lung cell, the cristae, infoldings of the mitochondrial inner membrane, can be seen in cross-section.

  • Phylogeny of the Eukarya

    • rRNA trees constructed during the 1980s and 1990s left most eukaryotes in an unresolved crown group, which was usually divided by the form of the mitochondrial cristae.