1. Free Energy, Stability, and Equilibrium
Free energy is a measure of a system’s instability, its tendency to change to a more stable state
During a spontaneous change, free energy decreases and the stability of a system increases
Equilibrium is a state of maximum stability
A process is spontaneous and can perform work only when it is moving toward equilibrium
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

2. Fig. 8-5
More free energy (higher G)
Less stable
Greater work capacity
In a spontaneous change
The free energy of the system
decreases (∆G < 0)
The system becomes more
stable
The released free energy can
be harnessed to do work
Less free energy (lower G)
More stable
Less work capacity
Figure 8.5 The relationship of free energy to stability, work capacity, and spontaneous change
(a) Gravitational motion
(b) Diffusion
(c) Chemical reaction

3. More free energy (higher G) Less stable Greater work capacity
Fig. 8-5a
More free energy (higher G)
Less stable
Greater work capacity
In a spontaneous change
The free energy of the system
decreases (∆G < 0)
The system becomes more
stable
The released free energy can
be harnessed to do work
Figure 8.5 The relationship of free energy to stability, work capacity, and spontaneous change
Less free energy (lower G)
More stable
Less work capacity

4. (a) Gravitational motion (b) Diffusion (c) Chemical reaction
Fig. 8-5b
Spontaneous
change
Spontaneous
change
Spontaneous
change
Figure 8.5 The relationship of free energy to stability, work capacity, and spontaneous change
(a) Gravitational motion
(b) Diffusion
(c) Chemical reaction

5. Free Energy and Metabolism
The concept of free energy can be applied to the chemistry of life’s processes
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

6. Exergonic and Endergonic Reactions in Metabolism
An exergonic reaction proceeds with a net release of free energy and is spontaneous
An endergonic reaction absorbs free energy from its surroundings and is nonspontaneous
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

7. Progress of the reaction
Fig. 8-6
Reactants
Amount of
energy
released
(∆G < 0)
Energy
Free energy
Products
Progress of the reaction
(a) Exergonic reaction: energy released
Products
Figure 8.6 Free energy changes (ΔG) in exergonic and endergonic reactions
Amount of
energy
required
(∆G > 0)
Energy
Free energy
Reactants
Progress of the reaction
(b) Endergonic reaction: energy required

8. Amount of energy released (∆G < 0)
Fig. 8-6a
Reactants
Amount of
energy
released
(∆G < 0)
Free energy
Energy
Products
Figure 8.6a Free energy changes (ΔG) in exergonic and endergonic reactions
Progress of the reaction
(a) Exergonic reaction: energy released

9. Amount of energy required (∆G > 0)
Fig. 8-6b
Products
Amount of
energy
required
(∆G > 0)
Energy
Free energy
Reactants
Figure 8.6b Free energy changes (ΔG) in exergonic and endergonic reactions
Progress of the reaction
(b) Endergonic reaction: energy required

10. Equilibrium and Metabolism
Reactions in a closed system eventually reach equilibrium and then do no work
Cells are not in equilibrium; they are open systems experiencing a constant flow of materials
A defining feature of life is that metabolism is never at equilibrium
A catabolic pathway in a cell releases free energy in a series of reactions
Closed and open hydroelectric systems can serve as analogies
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

11. Figure 8.7 Equilibrium and work in isolated and open systems
(a) An isolated hydroelectric system
(b) An open hydroelectric
system
∆G < 0
Figure 8.7 Equilibrium and work in isolated and open systems
∆G < 0
∆G < 0
∆G < 0
(c) A multistep open hydroelectric system

12. (a) An isolated hydroelectric system
Fig. 8-7a
∆G < 0
∆G = 0
Figure 8.7a Equilibrium and work in isolated and open systems
(a) An isolated hydroelectric system

13. (b) An open hydroelectric system
Fig. 8-7b
∆G < 0
Figure 8.7b Equilibrium and work in isolated and open systems
(b) An open hydroelectric system

14. (c) A multistep open hydroelectric system
Fig. 8-7c
∆G < 0
∆G < 0
∆G < 0
Figure 8.7c Equilibrium and work in isolated and open systems
(c) A multistep open hydroelectric system

15. Concept 8.3: ATP powers cellular work by coupling exergonic reactions to endergonic reactions
A cell does three main kinds of work:
Chemical
Transport
Mechanical
To do work, cells manage energy resources by energy coupling, the use of an exergonic process to drive an endergonic one
Most energy coupling in cells is mediated by ATP
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

16. The Structure and Hydrolysis of ATP
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the cell’s energy shuttle
ATP is composed of ribose (a sugar), adenine (a nitrogenous base), and three phosphate groups
For the Cell Biology Video Space Filling Model of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), go to Animation and Video Files.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

17. Adenine Phosphate groups Ribose Fig. 8-8
Figure 8.8 The structure of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Ribose

18. Energy is released from ATP when the terminal phosphate bond is broken
The bonds between the phosphate groups of ATP’s tail can be broken by hydrolysis
Energy is released from ATP when the terminal phosphate bond is broken
This release of energy comes from the chemical change to a state of lower free energy, not from the phosphate bonds themselves
For the Cell Biology Video Stick Model of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), go to Animation and Video Files.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

19. H2O P P P Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) P + P P + Energy
Fig. 8-9 P P P
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
H2O
Figure 8.9 The hydrolysis of ATP P + P P +
Energy i
Inorganic phosphate
Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)

20. Overall, the coupled reactions are exergonic
How ATP Performs Work
The three types of cellular work (mechanical, transport, and chemical) are powered by the hydrolysis of ATP
In the cell, the energy from the exergonic reaction of ATP hydrolysis can be used to drive an endergonic reaction
Overall, the coupled reactions are exergonic
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

21. ∆G = +3.4 kcal/mol Glutamic acid Ammonia Glutamine
Fig. 8-10
NH2
NH3 +
∆G = +3.4 kcal/mol
Glu
Glu
Glutamic
acid
Ammonia
Glutamine
(a) Endergonic reaction 1
ATP phosphorylates
glutamic acid,
making the amino
acid less stable. P +
ATP +
ADP
Glu
Glu
NH2 P 2
Ammonia displaces
the phosphate group,
forming glutamine.
NH3 + + P i
Glu
Glu
Figure 8.10 How ATP drives chemical work: Energy coupling using ATP hydrolysis
(b) Coupled with ATP hydrolysis, an exergonic reaction
(c) Overall free-energy change

22. The recipient molecule is now phosphorylated
ATP drives endergonic reactions by phosphorylation, transferring a phosphate group to some other molecule, such as a reactant
The recipient molecule is now phosphorylated
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings

23. Membrane protein Solute Solute transported Vesicle Cytoskeletal track
Fig. 8-11
Membrane protein P P i
Solute
Solute transported
(a) Transport work: ATP phosphorylates
transport proteins
ADP
ATP + P i
Vesicle
Cytoskeletal track
Figure 8.11 How ATP drives transport and mechanical work
ATP
Motor protein
Protein moved
(b) Mechanical work: ATP binds noncovalently
to motor proteins, then is hydrolyzed