Bioenergetics

Bioenergetics, the topic of volume 5 of this Series, is concerned with the energetics, the kinetics, and the mechanisms of energy conversion in biological systems. This phenomenon can be investigated on diffeƯ rent levels of complexity. On a global level the role of biological proƯ cesses for the steady state of our environment is considered. At the physiological level, the relation between energy input and the physioloƯ gical state of an organism is of interest, while at the cellular level the biochemical pathways for degradation and synthesis of all relevant substrates is investigated. At present the majority of bioenergetic stuƯ dies pertain to the molecular level. The processes in a cell are catalyƯ zed by a large number of proteins called enzymes. The enzymes inƯ volved in energy transduction can be considered as molecular maƯ chines which transform energy from one form into another, or transfer energy from one process to another. Living systems operate far from equilibrium and are open in the therƯ modynamic sense, i. e. they exchange energy and matter with the surƯ roundings. Chapter 1 presents the principles of non equilibrium thermoƯ dynamics applied to biological systems. About 0. 05% of the energy from the sunlight which reaches the surface of the earth is used by plants and algae as well as some bacteria to synthesize organic comƯ pounds, and thus supplies all organisms with the energy necessary for life.

1. Nonequilibrium thermodynamics applied to energy conversion in biological systems -- • Introduction -- • Elements of nonequilibrium thermodynamics -- • Steady states -- • Mechanisms of coupling between processes -- • Phenomenological description of processes and systems -- • Control and regulation of processes -- 2. Global bioenergetics -- • Introduction -- • Thermodynamic principles -- • Thermodynamic efficiencies and global bioenergetics -- • The current steady state: Global cycles of matter associated with global bioenergetics -- • Approach to the current steady state: Evolution of free-enthalpy transducing biosystems -- 3. Vectorial bioenergetics -- • Bioenergetics in a homogeneous compartment -- • Cellular compartmentation and bioenergetics -- • Proton bioenergetics -- • Transport phenomena -- • Sodium bioenergetics -- 4. Energetics of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria -- • Introduction -- • Principles of biological energy transformations -- • Energy-generating processes -- • Energy-requiring processes -- 5. Chloroplasts -- • Introduction -- • Light-driven electron transport and proton translocation -- • Carbon metabolism -- • Other metabolic pathways -- • Transport across the…