This book examines 'energy coupling membranes' of intracellular organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts, and the function of mitochondria as generators of reactive oxygen species that mediate the programmed death of cells, a key mechanism of aging.

Principles of Bioenergetics summarizes one of the quickly growing branches of modern biochemistry. Bioenergetics concerns energy transductions occurring in living systems and this book pays special attention to molecular mechanisms of these processes. The main subject of the book is the "energy coupling membrane" which refers to inner membranes of intracellular organelles, for example, mitochondria and chloroplasts. Cellular cytoplasmic membranes where respiratory and photosynthetic energy transducers, as well as ion-transporting ATP-synthases (ATPases) are also part of this membrane. Significant attention is paid to the alternative function of mitochondria as generators of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that mediate programmed death of cells (apoptosis and necrosis) and organisms (phenoptosis). The latter process is considered as a key mechanism of aging which may be suppressed by mitochondria-targeted antioxidants.

Comprehensive up-to-date treatment of molecular bioenergetic mechanisms Authors are the inventors of this branch within modern biology Written also for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in biophysics, biology and medicinal chemistry Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Part I: General Aspects of Bioenergetics: Introduction.- Part II: Generators of Proton Potential: Chlorophyll-Based Generators of Proton Potential.- Organotrophic Energetics.- The Respiratory Chain.- Structure of Respiratory Chains of Procaryotes and Mitochondria of Protozoa, Plants, and Fungi.- Bacteriorhodopsin.- Part III: Consumers.- Driven Chemical Work.- Driven Mechanical Work: Bacterial Motility.- Driven Osmotic Work.- Energy Source for Heat Production.- Part IV Interaction and Regulation of Proton Potential Generators and Consumers: Regulation, Transmission, and Buffering of Proton Potential.- Part V The Sodium World: Generators.- Part VI Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species and Mechanisms of Aging: Concept of Aging as a Result of Programmed Slow Poisoning of Organism with Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species.- Possible Medical Applications of Membrane Bioenergetics: Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants as Geroprotectors.- Appendices.