This course offers an in-depth exploration of the principles of bioenergetics, thermodynamics, and membrane biology, with a focus on the energetic processes within cells and the structure and function of biological membranes.

Overview of Chemical Thermodynamics:

• Key Concepts: Internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy, and the laws of thermodynamics.
• Processes: Distinction between spontaneous and non-spontaneous processes.
• Biochemical Applications: Free energy changes in biochemical reactions.

Principles of Thermodynamics in Cellular Energetics:

• Redox Systems: Understanding electron donors and acceptors, redox couples, redox potentials, electromotive force, and proton motive forces.

High Energy Compounds:

• Types: Phosphoric acid anhydrides, phosphoric-carboxylic acid anhydrides, phosphoguanidines, enolphosphates, and thiol esters.
• Energy Basis: Explanation of the high standard free energy of hydrolysis.
• ATP's Role: Central role of ATP in energy transfer, including phosphate group transfer potentials and substrate-level phosphorylation.
• Coupled Reactions: Energetics of coupled biochemical reactions.

ATP Synthesis and Utilization:

• Mitochondria and Chloroplasts: Review of structures and sources of energy.
• Electron Transport: Redox complexes involved in electron transport and proton gradient establishment.
• ATP Synthesis Mechanism: Coupling ATP synthesis to proton gradient dissipation, role of H+-ATPase, and thermogenesis.
• Cellular Work: ATP utilization in active membrane transport and mechanical work such as muscle contraction.

Membrane Structure and Function:

• Membrane Types and Functions: Chemical composition of membranes, including lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates.
• Lipid Properties: Amphipathic nature of lipids and their formation into monolayers, bilayers, liposomes, and micelles.
• Phospholipase Reactions: Reactions and roles of phospholipases in membrane dynamics.

Membrane Models and Properties:

• Historical Models: Dawson-Danielli and Singer-Nicholson models.
• Protein Types: Integral (e.g., glycophorin A, anion channel band 3, bacteriorhodopsin), lipid-anchored, and peripheral proteins.
• Membrane Components: Plasma membrane glycocalyx and its antigenic properties (e.g., RBC M and N, blood group O, A, and B).
• Membrane Dynamics: Evidence for the asymmetric, dynamic, and fluid-like nature of biomembranes, and roles in cell-cell recognition and fusion (e.g., flu virus and HIV infections).
• Membrane Biogenesis: Synthesis and transport of membrane lipids.

Membrane Preparation and Study:

• Study Methods: Physical, chemical, and biochemical methods for studying lipid bilayers and vesicles in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

Membrane Transport:

• Thermodynamics: Principles governing membrane transport.
• Transport Modes and Types: Uniport, symport, antiport systems; simple diffusion, passive-mediated, active transport; Na/K pump, co-transport (e.g., Na/glucose pump in kidneys/intestines, galactose permease in E. coli), exocytosis, and endocytosis.
• Channels and Pores: Ligand-gated and voltage-gated channels, ionophores (valinomycin, gramicidin A, and nigericin).