Chapter 12 - Thermodynamics and biological systems

Abstract

This chapter includes a short description of the mitochondria and energy transduction in the mitochondrion. It summarizes the proper pathways and the study of multi-inflection points in bioenergetics.. The concept of thermodynamic buffering caused by soluble enzymes and some important processes of bioenergetics using the linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics formulation has also been summarized. Many physical and biological processes occur in nonequilibrium, open systems with irreversible changes, such as the transport of matter, energy and electricity, nerve conduction, muscle contractions, and complex coupled phenomena. Mitochondria contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribosomes, proteinproducing organelles in the cytoplasm. The main function of the mitochondria is to provide energy for cellular activity by the process of aerobic respiration. Mitochondria are an efficient and regulated energy-transducing unit as it organizes the electron transfer and the associated reactions leading to the ATP synthesis. The chapter discusses the two theoretical approaches applied to the oxidative phosphorylation: metabolic control analysis and nonequilibrium thermodynamics. These approaches are helpful for quantitative description and understanding of control and regulation of the oxidative phosphorylation.