Powering the Cell: Mitochondria Animation

Together Harvard University and XVIVO developed this 3D animation journey for Harvard's undergraduate Molecular and Cellular Biology students about the microscopic world of mitochondria. The animation highlights the creation of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) -- mobile molecules which store chemical energy derived from the breakdown of carbon-based food. ATP molecules act as a kind of currency, imparting chemical energy to power all the functional components of cellular activity. This piece is the second in a series of award winning animations XVIVO is creating for Harvard's educational website BioVisions at Harvard. The first program, Inner Life of the Cell, received international acclaim and can be seen both on our website and the BioVisions site.

[MikeGinnyMD]

At age 17 in AP Bio class, my teacher described the workings of the mitochondrion in great detail. I was enthralled by the descriptions of carbohydrate metabolism, how energy was withdrawn from it, and how a proton gradient powered actual protein "turbines" that spun as they drove the ATP synthetases. The mitochondrion inspired me to pursue medicine as a career. This video is a wonderous piece of work, a combination of artistic talent and scientific accuracy. It's EXACTLY how I imagined it.

[hopeul]

If there were 3d animations like these for every subject in school I would just love to learn about them!

[TonyTigerTonyTiger]

@0:41 The bluish barrel-shaped molecule is a chaperone: chaperones help proteins folds into their correct 3-D conformation.

@1:11 Together, each rotating “tree” and the stationary part right next to it that keeps the top of the “tree” from rotating is one ATP synthase molecule.

@1:14 ADP (yellow-green) is binding to ATP synthase and then ATP (glowing) is being released.

@1:28 ADP and ATP are being exchanged through the membrane.

[bunnypro]

WHY DOES THE MUSIC IN THESE VIDEOS ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SO EPIC?!?!

[BigStickyNugs]

absolutely amazing. A mini factory working away 24/7 without us even noticing

[JeraWolfe]

Found this gem during my studies into Mitochondria, ATP, and Glycolysis.
Amazing sub-cellular eye candy.

Mom's magical mitochondria.

Enjoy!

[valerieflynn]

I'm doing a report on mitochondria, and I absolutely love this video! I'm gonna share this with all my science geek friends. Thanks!

[kennethpgolden]

a wondrous example of the complexities and phenomena of everything that is

[yuriab]

I'm in tears. The human body is fascinating!!! Thanks to chemical evolution, coacervates, DNA, RNA etc. *---* We're all dust of the stars...

[DavidCameronFilms]

This is pretty amazing all around. A little Morgan Freeman could make this Oscar worthy.

[noahmasonscience]

I absolutely love the mitochondria! Without my mitochondria, my cells would be unable to do cellular respiration nor would function properly. My cells biochemical functions wouldn't work properly either. Perhaps its best to have my mitochondria.

[spicychickenwing]

@CalyxAsgard It's the powerhouse component of the cell, which generates ATP (the fuel currency of the cell) responsible for catalyzing various biochemical reactions. It's also responsible for cell apoptosis, among other things.

[MIDNAqLINK]

This is beautiful. Something so small does such a complicated work. I've just learned this in school (8th grade lol) and it's so fascinating. Some of the functions in our body are done on such a small scale it makes me wonder what a world exists below what our eyes can see.

[buckslearningcooperative]

This is so beautiful. I wish I knew more precisely what's happening throughout - a voiceover would be nice.

[bruhmoment]

0:35 I was in bio class today and my teacher had this on when we were in passing period, and that part where you go in is so cool with the music, it becomes to happy then with the guitar as it looks at the atp synthase stuff

[doughouge]

I am studying the effects of HIV and the drugs used to treat it on the mitochondria. Since the Dr.'s think I'm too stupid to understand it I will find out for myself and pass it on. This is the stuff that completely defies any explantion that we were created by chance.

[paulbriggs]

It's a good thing no labels or descriptions of what was happening were added to this, because people might start figuring it out. Good job preventing that from happening!

[pyrofirechick]

That was rather beautiful really. It makes you think about your body and how we take for granted that our body just does most things on its own without our truly being conscious about it.

[Lanceleoghauni]

This is so awesome when you know what's happening. Sometimes being a Biology major is just plain cool

[TonyTigerTonyTiger]

@0:16 The worm-looking thing is a mitochondrion (plural = mitochondria)

@0:22 The strand is a protein and it has particles attached to it to keep it linear, so that it can fit through a protein channel in the membrane.

@0:24 The particles are released from the protein as it feeds into and through the protein channel in the outer mitochondrial membrane.

@0:26 The protein passes through the space between the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes and then through the inner membrane.