Question
Biology Question on Cell: the unit of life
Which structures perform the function of mito- chondria in bacteria?
A
Nucleoid
B
Ribosomes
C
Cell wall
D
Mesosomes
Answer
Mesosomes
Explanation
Solution
Mesosome is a characteristic circular to villiform specialisation of bacterial cell membrane that develops as an ingrowth. It consists of vesicles, tubules and lamellae. Mesosomes may be septal or lateral. Septal mesosome connects nucleoid with plasma membrane and assists in replication and septum formation during cells division. Lateral mesosome is not connected with nucleoid and contains respiratory enzymes and performs functions similar to eukarytoic mitochondria and hence is also called chondrioid. They also increase the surface area of plasma membrane and enzymatic contact.