Mitochondria & Chloroplast: Energy Conversion

Mitochondria and chloroplast are cellular compartments where specialized processes occur, and each organelle has its own set of enzymes and membrane carriers to carry its functions specifically. If the cell were a factory, the mitochondrion would be its "powerhouse"; the chloroplast would exist as part of the plant cell's "manufacturing center", and the nucleus would be its "management center".

Mitochondria have been used as instruments inside the cell for transducing chemical energy of reduced molecules, e.g. carbohydrates, into ATP, which is then used for biosynthesis, active transport and other vital biochemical processes. The ultimate source of this chemical energy comes from the sun. Photosynthesis in green plants converts energy from the sun into ATP and NADPH, which can then be used in the biosynthesis of carbohydrates from CO2 and water. This energy conversion involves two important processes: the harvesting of light energy and its use in anabolism, which both occur in chloroplast.