The organelle responsible for converting energy from food into a form the cell can use is the mitochondrion.
Mitochondria are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell because they produce the energy currency of the cell, called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This process is called cellular respiration.
Here's how the mitochondria convert energy from food into ATP:
1. The process starts in the cytoplasm of the cell, where glucose molecules are broken down through a process called glycolysis. This step produces a small amount of ATP.
2. The remaining breakdown products from glycolysis are transported into the mitochondria.
3. Inside the mitochondria, these products undergo further breakdown through a series of chemical reactions in a process called the Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle. This step releases carbon dioxide and transfers energy-rich electrons to carrier molecules.
4. The carrier molecules transfer the electrons to the electron transport chain, located in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. This chain consists of a series of protein complexes that pass the electrons along, releasing energy in the process.
5. As the electrons move through the electron transport chain, the energy released is used to pump protons (hydrogen ions) from the inner compartment of the mitochondria to the outer compartment, creating an electrochemical gradient.
6. The electrochemical gradient drives the synthesis of ATP through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. ATP synthase, an enzyme embedded in the inner membrane, uses the energy from the electrochemical gradient to convert adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) into ATP.
Overall, the mitochondria play a crucial role in converting the energy stored in food molecules into ATP, which the cell can then use for various cellular processes.