Which organelle is primarily responsible for aerobic respiration and ATP production?

The mitochondrion is the organelle primarily responsible for aerobic respiration and ATP production in eukaryotic cells. This process occurs in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, where enzymes catalyze a series of reactions known as the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. During aerobic respiration, oxygen is used to efficiently convert glucose into ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell, along with carbon dioxide and water as by-products.

The structure of mitochondria is key to their function; they have a double membrane, with the inner membrane being highly folded into structures called cristae, which increases the surface area for the reactions involved in ATP production. The space between the inner and outer membranes contains enzymes necessary for the Krebs cycle, making the mitochondrion an essential site for energy metabolism.

Other organelles, such as ribosomes, are involved in protein synthesis, lysosomes are responsible for digestion and waste processing within the cell, and the nucleus contains genetic material and controls cellular activities, including growth and reproduction, but none of these are directly involved in the process of aerobic respiration or ATP production like the mitochondrion.