Do mitocondion digest proteins?
Mitochondria do not directly digest proteins; instead, they play a crucial role in energy production through processes like oxidative phosphorylation. Proteins are first broken down into amino acids in the cytoplasm by proteolytic enzymes. These amino acids can then be transported into the mitochondria for various metabolic processes, including contributing to the Krebs cycle or being used for energy. Thus, while mitochondria are essential for cellular metabolism, they are not the site of protein digestion.