Bioenergetics & the Problem of Excessive Biochemical Reducing Equivalents
Bioenergetics, a branch of biology which studies energy transformations in living organisms. It examines how energy is utilized, stored and released. It is crucial to understand how organisms and cells work. Bioenergetics has a particular problem with excess biochemically reducing equivalents. Reduced equivalents can be molecules that accept electrons. If there is too much of these molecules in a system they can lead to an increase of energy. It can cause cell damage and stress as well as a reduction in efficiency. It is essential to know what reducing alternatives are, and how cells regulate them to help understand the problem. These molecules can donate electrons to other cells and provide energy. These molecules, which are produced by the metabolic pathways in the cell, are vital for the production and use of ATP. But, if the cells have too many of these reducing molecules, it can cause damage. The excess molecules could cause reactive oxygen species to be produced, which may lead to cell damage. In addition, excess reducing compounds can accumulate in cells, which could lead to decreased energy efficiency. Cont…