Bioenergetics at a Glance: An Illustrated Introduction

Bioenergetics is the study of the way biological systems, usually at the molecular level, utilize and convert energy in order to drive the biochemical reactions that constitute life. However, because of its often quantitative

Scope of bioenergetics.

The ′universal′ view of energy.

The ′local′ view of energy.

Equilibrium and equilibrium constants.

Sources of biological energy – quantitation.

Direct coupling of oxidation to anhydride formation.

Oxygen as an oxidising agent.

Respiratory carriers.

Respiratory chain (mitochondrial).

Respiratory assemblages (mitochondrial).

Mechanism of electron flow between proteins.

Variations within respiratory chains.

Light trapping and water splitting in chloroplasts.

Reaction centre structure.

Organisation of membrane proteins (chloroplast).

Photosynthetic bacteria.

Concepts of energy transduction– redox–anhydride bond energy.

Transfer via H+gradient –.

I. Qualitative aspects.

II. Kinetic aspects.

Quantitative aspects –.

I. H+/O ratio.

II. DGp/DMH+.

How does electron transfer generate H+ (I) + (II).

ATP synthase complex.

F1 structure.

F0 structure.

Coupling H+ gradient to ATP synthesis – energetics.

structural aspects.

Integration with cytoplasm – mitochondria.

Aspects of control – qualitative:quantitative.

Integration of cytoplasm/control – chloroplasts.

Uncouplers and ionophores in studies of phosphorylation.

Mitochondrial defects.

Alternative uses of H+ gradient.

Alternative gradient production.

ATP driven ion pumps – a broader perspective.

E–P pumps.

Evolution of pumps.

Evolution of organelles