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:

  • Opisthokonts: Animals and Fungi

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

  • 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.