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 diffe­ rent levels of complexity. On a global level the role of biological pro­ cesses for the steady state of our enviroment is considered. At the physiological level, the relation between energy input and the physiolo­ 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 stu­ dies pertain to the molecular level. The processes in a cell are cataly­ zed by a large number of proteins called enzymes. The enzymes in­ volved in energy transduction can be considered as molecular ma­ 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 ther­ modynamic sense, i. e. they exchange energy and matter with the sur­ roundings. Chapter 1 presents the principles of non equilibrium thermo­ 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 com­ pounds, and thus supplies all organisms with the energy necessary for life.

Bioelectrochemistry: Principles and Practice provides a comprehensive compilation of all the physicochemical aspects of the different biochemical and physiological processes.

Approximately 0.05% of all the sunlight reaching the surface of the earth is used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds. All the organisms use these compounds as energy sources for their metabolism. Biooenergetics, the fourth volume in the Bioelectrochemistry series, describes the energetics, kinetics and molecular mechanisms of these processes. The volume begins by examining the thermodynamics of open systems, and the global aspects of the biological processes involved. It then reviews the differences between scalar and vectorial chemical reactions in the cell, and the coupling between the different reactions. It also describes energy transduction in bacteria, chloroplasts, and mitochondria as well as the different pathways evolved in order to utilize energy from various external sources. Finally, the molecular mechanisms of some important energy transducing enzyme complexes are examined.

Further volumes will be added to the series, which is intended as a set of source books for graduate and postgraduate students as well as research workers at all levels in bioelectrochemistry. -- Book Description