§ Glossary · biology

Cardiolipin

A unique phospholipid in the inner mitochondrial membrane essential for electron transport chain function.

Cardiolipin is a four-tail phospholipid found almost exclusively in the inner mitochondrial membrane (and bacterial cell membranes — reflecting mitochondria's bacterial origin). It's structurally essential for inner-membrane curvature, cristae formation, and the assembly of electron transport chain complexes I, III, IV, and V. Cardiolipin damage by reactive oxygen species disrupts ETC assembly, accelerating mitochondrial dysfunction. SS-31 (elamipretide) selectively binds cardiolipin and stabilises the inner-membrane structure under stress — the mechanistic basis of mitochondrial-research peptide development.

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