Where do biomolecules get their energy from?

[Elite Engineer]

I dont understand. Cells require exothermic, free energy reactions to function. The energy released by bond breakage (i.e. heat) in a cell does not contribute to the

 

energy transfer in chemical processes, however the lower stability of the product and "good leaving group" (i.e. phosphate group) provide the energy for the chemical process (reaction

 

--> product) to take place. But then what "energy" drives mechanical movement of proteins, and pumps, etc. if the "energy" is just either a chemical bond with a high potential

 

energy (i.e. ATP) or a product with a higher stability (resonance of pyruvate at the end of the glycolytic pathway)?

 

 

 

-I guess what I'm asking is..you can see the oxidation of sucrose is generated by the energy of the N-O bonds in potassium nitrate breaking..its a clear transfer of thermal of energy.

 

Thermal energy increases vibrations--> high vibrational energy is transferred---> high vibrational energy causes bonds to break (i.e. C-C, C-O and C-H...sucrose)

 

This has always bothered me and I want to know why!

 

~EE

Edited November 19, 2014 by Elite Engineer

[John Cuthber]

It's complicated.

Things like tis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_transport

move things in and out of cells etc.

[Elite Engineer]

what about motor proteins "energized" by ATP?