Mitochondrial filaments and clusters as intracellular power-transmitting cables

Mitochondria exist in two interconverting forms; as small isolated particle s, and as extended filaments, networks or clusters connected with intermito chondrial junctions. Extended mitochondria can represent electrically unite d systems, which can facilitate energy delivery from the cell periphery to the cell core and organize antioxidant defence of th e cell interior when O -2 is consumed by mitochondrial clusters near the outer cell membrane, and protonic potential is transmitted to the cell core mitochondria to form ATP As to small mitochondria, they might represent a transportable form of the se organelles.