Changes in plant mitochondria ultrastructure and respiration intensity in altered gravity

Analysis of experimental results involving both animals and plants showed that cell mitochondria considerably changed regarding organelles shape, matrix density, number and size of cristae. However, oxidative-reductive enzymes did not lose their activity (2). Moreover, there are some data concerning an increase in respiration intensity of plants grown on a horizontal clinostat (3) and in seedlings being on board of Biosatellite-11 (4). Similar rearrangements in mitochondria are also observed during clinorotation (5). Taking into account that energy supply of cells during their adaptation to various factors considerably depends on the functional activity of these organelles along with ultrastructure the activity of some enzymes of energetic and oxidative metabolism as well as the level of cell respiration in altered gravity was studied.