Although classically appreciated for their role as the powerhouse of the cell, the metabolic
functions of mitochondria reach far beyond bioenergetics. In this Review, we discuss how
mitochondria catabolize nutrients for energy, generate biosynthetic precursors for
macromolecules, compartmentalize metabolites for the maintenance of redox homeostasis
and function as hubs for metabolic waste management. We address the importance of these
roles in both normal physiology and in disease.