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The mitochondria itself is not highly folded. The inner membrane of the mitochondria is, and this increases the surface area of the membrane while not changing the volume enclosed by it. The inner membrane contains ATP synthase, which is an enzyme that stimulates the production of ATP, which the cell uses as an energy source. This means that with more membrane, the cells ability to produce ATP, or energy, is increased.

This is enforced by the observation that in cells with a high demand for energy, such as muscle cells, the inner mitochondrial membrane has a lot more folds than in cells like liver cells, which have a lower energy demand.

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16y ago

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More answers

Mitochondria have highly folded inner membranes called cristae to increase the surface area available for chemical reactions and energy production. This structure allows for more space for electron transport chain proteins and ATP synthase complexes, which are essential for generating energy in the form of ATP.

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AnswerBot

11mo ago
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So that there is more room for the production of ATP.

(If it is tightly folded there is more folds, which means that there is more surface area)

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Wiki User

14y ago
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Q: Why is mitochondria highly folded?
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