Biochemistry

Introduction to Bioenergetics
 Bioenergetics
• The study of energy in living systems and the
organisms that utilize them. In other words
the study of transformation of energy in living
organism. This is the goal of bioenergetics is to
describe how living organisms acquire and
transform energy in order to perform
biological activity or work. The study of
metabolic pathway is thus essential to
bioenergetics.
• There are two types of energy =
• 1.kinetic energy
• 2.potential energy
 Kinetic energy

• Energy of motion is called kinetic energy. i.e.

heat and light
 Potential energy

• Energy of position is called potential energy,

i.e. Energy stored in chemical reaction etc
• In other words Potential energy is defined as
mechanical energy, stored energy,
or energy caused by its position.
• 1st law of thermodynamics also explain that
energy neither be created nor destroyed but it
can be changed from one condition to another.
There are two types of reaction ,
• 1. Endergonic reaction= chemical reaction that
requires a net input of energy i.e.
photosynthesis.
• 2.Exergonic reaction= chemical reaction in
which energy releases i.e. cellular respiration.
 Biological oxidation
• All reactions which involve electron flow are
considered oxidation reduction reaction. The
basic definition can be defined as , one
reactant is oxidized (loses electron), while
another is reduced (gain electron). i.e. A
couple of basic oxidation reduction reaction is
redox reaction. i.e. Electron transport chain
Electron transport chain