Question

What would the presence of cardiolipin primarily in the inner mitochondrial membrane and the ubiquitous presence of phosphatidylcholine say about their relative functions?

Answer 1

ANSWER)

Cardiolipin is very uncommon or is readily found, one of a type of phospholipid which is localized in a particular manner at level of the inner mitochondrial membrane. It is the site of its biosynthesis. This phospholipid interacts and joins with membranes which are used to generate an electrochemical gradient, which can be utilized to yield ATP. These membranes contain the cell membrane of bacteria and inner mitochondrial membrane. This ubiquitious (present everywhere) and close linking between cardiolipin and energy-transducing membranes renders an essential role for cardiolipin in mitochondrial bioenergetic processes. Cardiolipin is known to interact with a number of inner mitochondrial membrane proteins, containing the respiratory chain complexes and substrate carriers. Cardiolipin is also associated in different phases of the mitochondrial apoptosis (cell death) process and in addition in mitochondrial membrane stability. The lipid functions are focussing on the role that two different phospholipids, (cardiolipin and phosphatidyl choline) play in apoptosis. Mitochondria being the most important and playing the central role in apoptosis or we can say playing essential rrole in cell death.