Rough estimate of the number of ATP synthases in a human mitochondrion.

[Dave6]

Hi,

I realise there is no single answer for this due to the heterogenous nature of mitochondria. The only direct reference I've been able to find was from a researchgate question:

This seems a very large number, and I am not sure of the step he takes to conclude that 8,000 10 nm ATP synthases (plus I suppose the corresponding electron transport chains) will fit into a single side of a crista. I guess the cristae fold back and forth between the 1um diameter of the mitochondrion? I also wonder about the ratio of ATP synthases to electron transport chains, and if it is 1:1 as suggested by mitochondrial diagrams showing one ATP synthase per ETC.