Final Answer:
Mitochondria facilitate cellular respiration, where fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation, producing acetyl-CoA, and NADH is generated in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. Fatty acids and NADH enter the mitochondrion, crucial for ATP synthesis through the electron transport chain. This highlights their key roles in energy production within cells. Thus the correct option is C. Fatty acids and NADH.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mitochondria play a crucial role in cellular respiration, the process by which cells generate energy in the form of ATP. The two substances that generally move into the mitochondrion are fatty acids and NADH.
Fatty acids are the primary molecules broken down through beta-oxidation to produce acetyl-CoA, a key player in the citric acid cycle. NADH, on the other hand, is an electron carrier generated during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, and it serves as a source of electrons for the electron transport chain within the mitochondria.
In the process of cellular respiration, fatty acids are broken down in the mitochondrial matrix through beta-oxidation, leading to the production of acetyl-CoA. The acetyl-CoA then enters the citric acid cycle, where it undergoes a series of reactions that generate NADH.
These NADH molecules, along with those produced in glycolysis, deliver electrons to the electron transport chain embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. As electrons move through the chain, a flow of protons occurs, establishing an electrochemical gradient that drives ATP synthesis.
The movement of fatty acids and NADH into the mitochondrion is integral to the overall process of oxidative phosphorylation, where ATP is synthesized through the electron transport chain and ATP synthase. This intricate series of events highlights the interconnectedness of cellular processes within the mitochondria and emphasizes the significance of fatty acids and NADH in energy production at the cellular level.
Thus the correct option is C. Fatty acids and NADH.