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BIOENERGETICS
How organisms obtain and utilize energy
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Objectives:
1. Describe how organisms obtain and utilize
energy.
2. Explain how photosynthetic organisms use light
energy to combine carbon dioxide and water to
form energy-rich compounds.
3. Trace the energy flow from the environment to
the cells.
4. Recognize that organisms require energy to
carry out functions required for life.
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This team of ants is breaking down a dead tree; a classic

example of teamwork. And all that work takes energy. In fact, each
chemical reaction - the chemical reactions that allow the cells in
those ants to do the work - needs energy to get started.
And all that energy comes from the food the ants eat.
Whatever eats the ants get their energy from the ants.
How Organisms obtain
ENERGY?
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Bioenergetics
The study of how organisms manage their
energy resources through metabolic
pathways.
Biological energetics is the branch of biology
and biochemistry that studies how
organisms extract energy from their
environment and how that energy is used to
fuel life endergonic processes (processes by
which organisms absorb free energy from
their surroundings.
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In order to increase energetic efficiency, cells

often couple reactions together.

Energy Coupling
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Endergonic reactions are those that require an input of

energy.
o In an endergonic reaction, energy is absorbed from the
surroundings. The bonds being formed are weaker than
the bonds being broken.

Exergonic reactions are those that release energy.

o In an exergonic reaction, energy is released to the
surroundings. The bonds being formed are stronger than
the bonds being broken.
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(a) Burning glucose (sugar):

an exergonic reaction

high Exergonic Reactions

Activation energy needed
to ignite glucose

Energy Glucose + O2
content
of
molecules Energy released by
burning glucose
C O2 + H2O
low
Progress of reaction
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(b) Photosynthesis:
an endergonic reaction

high Endergonic Reactions

Glucose
Energy Activation Net energy
content energy from captured by
of
molecules light captured synthesizing
by photosynthesisglucose
CO2 + H2O
low
Progress of reaction
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Exergonic Reactions
CH2OH
O
Energy
O Released
OH
+
O O
H H
High Energy O
Reactants +
Low Energy
Products O C O
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Metabolism
Metabolism is the totality of an organisms
reactions that arise from interactions between
molecules.
An organisms metabolism transforms matter and
energy according to the laws of thermodynamics.
Metabolic pathways take place in specific regions
of cells and are a sequence of chemical reactions,
where the product of one reaction serves as a
substrate for the next reaction.
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Metabolism
Two types of metabolic reactions take
place in the cell: 'building up'
(anabolism) and 'breaking down'
(catabolism).
Anabolic reactions use up energy. They
are endergonic. In an anabolic reaction
small molecules join to make larger
ones.
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Metabolism
Catabolic pathway reactions break down
large molecules into smaller subunits and
release energy.
Anabolic pathways join small molecules
together to form larger molecules that store
energy.
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Catabolic reactions give out energy. They are exergonic. In a

catabolic reaction large molecules are broken down into
smaller ones. For example, the reverse of the condensation
reactions described above, i.e. hydrolysis reactions, are
catabolic.
A simple example of a catabolic reaction that occurs in cells
is the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and
oxygen:

2H2O2 2H2O + O2
The conversion of glucose during respiration to produce
carbon dioxide and water is another common example:

C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O

 Anabolic reactions use up energy. They are endergonic.15
In
an anabolic reaction small molecules join to make larger
ones. For example, the following condensation reactions
that occur in cells are anabolic:
amino acids join together to make dipeptides:

e.g. NH2CHRCOOH +
NH2CHRCOOH NH2CHRCONHCHRCOOH + H2O

and the process continues as large protein molecules are

built up
small sugar molecules join together to make
dissacharides:

e.g. C6H12O6 + C6H12O6 C12H22O11 + H2O

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and the process continues as large polysaccharide
molecules are built up
glycerol reacts with fatty acids to make lipids:

e.g. CH2OHCH(OH)CH2OH +
C17H35COOH CH2OHCH(OH)CH2OOCC17H35

and the process continues as the triglyceride is

produced via similar reactions with the other two
hydroxyl groups of the glycerol molecule
during photosynthesis carbon dioxide and water are
used to produce glucose and oxygen:

e.g. 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

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How Organisms Get Energy:

Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
Organisms may be usefully divided into two broad
groups with respect to how they satisfy their need
for energy.
Autotrophic organisms convert energy from
nonorganic sources such as light to chemical
energy.
Heterotrophic organisms, animals must ingest and
break down complex organic molecules to provide
the energy for life.
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Autotrophs
Autotrophs are organisms that make their own food. Most
autotrophs use the energy in sunlight to make food in a
process called photosynthesis. Only three types of
organismsplants, algae, and some bacteriacan make
food through photosynthesis.

Photosynthetic autotrophs, which make food using the energy in sunlight, include
(a) plants, (b) algae, and (c) certain bacteria.
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Heterotrophs
Heterotrophs are living things that cannot
make their own food. Instead, they get their
food by consuming other organisms, which
is why they are also called consumers.
They may consume autotrophs or other
heterotrophs. Heterotrophs include all
animals and fungi and many single-celled
organisms.
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Photosynthetic organisms use light
energy to combine carbon dioxide
and water to form energy-rich
compounds.
Photosynthetic organisms use external
solar energy to maintain orderly
structure.
Photosynthesis is another example of
an endergonic reaction, it requires the
input of light energy from the sun in
order for its chemical reactions to take
place.
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Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is often considered to be
the single most important life process on
Earth. It changes light energy into chemical
energy and also releases oxygen. Without
photosynthesis, there would be no oxygen
in the atmosphere. Photosynthesis involves
many chemical reactions, but they can be
summed up in a single chemical equation:
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy C6H12O6 +
6O2.
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Photosynthetic autotrophs capture light

energy from the sun and absorb carbon
dioxide and water from their environment.
Using the light energy, they combine the
reactants to produce glucose and oxygen,
which is a waste product. They store the
glucose, usually as starch, and they
release the oxygen into the atmosphere.
 Photosynthesis
Chemical reaction where green plants use
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water & carbon dioxide to store the suns

energy in glucose
ENERGY is stored in glucose
Glucose is stored as starch in plants
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Producers use cellular respiration

to supply the energy they need to
live.
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Cellular respiration actually burns glucose for

energy. However, it doesnt produce light or intense
heat as some other types of burning do. This is
because it releases the energy in glucose slowly, in
many small steps. It uses the energy that is released
to form molecules of ATP. Cellular respiration involves
many chemical reactions, which can be summed up
with this chemical equation:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + Chemical Energy
(in ATP)
Cellular respiration occurs in the cells of all living
things. It takes place in the cells of both autotrophs
and heterotrophs. All of them burn glucose to form
ATP.
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Energy Molecules: Glucose

and ATP
Organisms mainly use two types of
molecules for chemical energy: glucose
and ATP. Both molecules are used as fuels
throughout the living world. Both molecules
are also key players in the process of
photosynthesis.
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Glucose
Glucose is a simple carbohydrate with the
chemical formula C6H12O6. It stores
chemical energy in a concentrated, stable
form. In your body, glucose is the form of
energy that is carried in your blood and
taken up by each of your trillions of cells.
Glucose is the end product of
photosynthesis, and it is the nearly
universal food for life.
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ATP
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the
energy-carrying molecule that cells use for
energy. ATP is made during the first half of
photosynthesis and then used for energy
during the second half of photosynthesis,
when glucose is made. It is also used for
energy by cells for most other cellular
processes. ATP releases energy when it
gives up one of its three phosphate groups
and changes to ADP (adenosine
diphosphate [two phosphates]).
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 Why Organisms Need Both 30

Glucose and ATP

Why do living things need glucose if ATP is the
molecule that cells use for energy? Why dont
autotrophs just make ATP and be done with it? The
answer is in the packaging. A molecule of glucose
contains more chemical energy in a smaller package
than a molecule of ATP. Glucose is also more stable
than ATP. Therefore, glucose is better for storing and
transporting energy. However, glucose is too powerful
for cells to use. ATP, on the other hand, contains just
the right amount of energy to power life processes
within cells. For these reasons, both glucose and ATP
are needed by living things.
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Non-photosynthetic organisms use

stored chemical energy in other
living things to gain energy and
perform life function.
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6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

CELLULAR RESPIRATION is the

chemical reaction that releases
the energy in glucose.
Energy Flow
Flow means to move.
Energy flows from producer to consumer
via matter
Energy is transferred from one organism to
the next, however, a lot of energy is lost to
the environment as heat.
Energy Flow
Food chain - a model that shows how matter and
energy moves through an ecosystem.
Energy moves from producer to consumer to
decomposer.
berries mice black bear
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Why Body Needs Energy?

Organisms require energy to carry
out functions required for life.
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Examples of the Different Types of

Cell Work Requiring ATP
A. Mechanical beating of cilia; contraction
of muscle cells; cytoplasmic flow
B. Transport active transport
C. Chemical synthesis of polymers from
monomers
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Basal Metabolism
Basal metabolic rate, or BMR, is the minimal
amount of energy needed to keep your body
functioning and alive while at rest. BMR uses
about 60 to 65 percent of daily energy stores,
according to the University of Maryland School of
Medicine. In the resting state, energy supports
circulation, respiration, digestion, excretion and
other functions performed by vital organs. Seven
percent of your total energy supply keeps your
body warm. Energy needs differ according to age,
gender, body composition, health status, diet and
activity level
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Body Composition
Body composition is one determinant of energy
requirements. Muscle is the bodys most metabolic
tissue, which means it requires more energy than
other body tissues to maintain itself. Because they
are naturally more muscular, men need more
energy calories than women do. Children and
young adults undergoing developmental changes
in height, weight and body composition have
greater energy needs. Energy requirements
change as people age, because muscle tissue
atrophies, causing a reduction in basal energy
metabolism, according to the Colorado State
University Extension website.
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Digestion and Absorption

Digestion and absorption of the nutrients in food
use 5 to 10 percent of your daily energy stores to
produce more energy, according to the University
of Maryland School of Medicine. Diet composition
also determines energy requirements for food
metabolism. Carbohydrates, protein and fats are
digested at different rates. For example, the
October 2004 issue of the Journal of the American
College of Nutrition published a report stating
animal protein takes longer to digest than
carbohydrates or fat, and uses 20 to 35 percent of
calories energy to complete the digestive
process.
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Physical Energy
External functions supported by energy include exercise, work
and play. If you are active and have a high lean body mass to
fat ratio, your energy needs are greater than someone who
leads a sedentary lifestyle or has a high body fat composition,
according to Sheri Barke, MPH, RD, College of Canyons
Student Health and Wellness Center. Fighting invading
organisms that cause infection and disease uses massive
amounts of physical energy. Fever drains energy stores to
restore and maintain normal temperature balance. Resting
metabolic rates increased by 8 percent in 25 study
participants infected with respiratory tract infections, according
to a report published in the July/August 2010 issue of the
American Journal of Human Biology. Study results indicate
even modest physiological responses to infection might cause
substantial increases in energy usage.
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Mental Energy
Your brain needs a constant supply of energy to
continuously maintain, support and protect your
life. Mental activities, such as work, hobbies,
reading, studying, homework, doing crossword
puzzles, learning a new language, any mentally
challenging endeavor, including daydreaming,
requires energy. According to the Franklin Institute,
brain cells require double the amount of energy
needed by other cells. Worry and stress drain
mental and physical energy. Problems with
finances, employment, school, health,
relationships, family and friends can increase
susceptibility to illness, according to Purdue
University Student Health Center.
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Wrap it up!
Bioenergetics is the part of biochemistry concerned
with the energy involved in making and breaking of
chemical bonds in the molecules found in biological
organisms. It can also be defined as the study of
energy relationships and energy transformations in
living organisms.
Growth, development and metabolism are some of the
central phenomena in the study of biological
organisms. The role of energy is fundamental to such
biological processes. The ability to harness energy
from a variety of metabolic pathways is a property of all
living organisms. Life is dependent on energy
transformations; living organisms survive because of
exchange of energy within and without.
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References:
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/five-reasons-body-needs-
energy-4673.html
http://www.ck12.org/user:dGVycnlyQHZhbGxleTI2Mi5vcmc./s
ection/Energy-for-Life-::of::-Photosynthesis-and-Cellular-
Respiration/