Bioenergetics 4

by David G. Nicholls, Stuart Ferguson

Extensively revised, the fourth edition of this highly successful book takes into account the many newly determined protein structures that provide molecular insight into chemiosmotic energy transduction, as well as reviewing the explosive advances in 'mitochondrial physiology'-the role of the mitochondria in the life and death of the cell.

Covering mitochondria, bacteria and chloroplasts, the fourth edition of Bioenergetics provides a clear and comprehensive account of the chemiosmotic theory and its many applications. The figures have been carefully designed to be memorable and to convey the key functional and mechanistic information. Written for students and researchers alike, Bioenergetics is the most well-known, current and respected text on chemiosmotic theory and membrane bioenergetics available.

Chapters are now divided between three interlocking sections: basic principles, structures and mechanisms, and mitochondrial physiology. Covers new advances in the structure and mechanism of key bioenergetic proteins, including complex I of the respiratory chain and transport proteins. Details cellular bioenergetics, mitochondrial cell biology and signal transduction, and the roles of mitochondria in physiology, disease and aging. Offers readers clear, visual representation of structural concepts through full colour figures throughout the book.

Genres: Biology, Science

802 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2013

About the author

I have been researching into bioenergetics and mitochondrial function for almost 50 years, and have published more than 280 research papers and reviews. The first edition of Bioenergetics, published in 1982, was designed to introduce the novel concepts that Nobel Laureate Peter Mitchell put forward – his “Chemiosmotic Hypothesis”- to a general audience of biochemists, physiologists and biologists, and to explain the beautiful simplicity of the basic concepts. This seems to have been successful, since the first 3 editions, published at roughly 10 year intervals, have sold an aggregate 16,000 copies. From the second edition onwards, I have worked with my co-author, Stuart Ferguson, to combine functional and structural information into a single volume. This current edition, Bioenergetics 4, published in June 2013, is not only completely updated to include the proliferation of crystal structures now available, but contains an entire section on ‘mitochondrial physiology’, reflecting the explosive growth in the investigation of the roles of mitochondria in the normal physiology of the cell and in pathological changes associated with aging and disease. I continue research, but am increasingly focusing on teaching the principles of bioenergetics to as wide an audience as possible – and that is the impetus behind this book.

Reviews

[Brooke Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

five months later…

this book is about to get a review i hope no academics in my field ever find

reading this front to back as a baby master’s student was… ambitious? insane? your choice

it made me feel like i’m stupid, it made me feel like i’m not smart enough for this degree. but over the past five months i have learned an insane amount (as i should have… that’s the whole point of this degree). reading the last three chapters of this book (which are arguably the most important in the context of my lab and my work) and UNDERSTANDING what was being said. was perhaps the most rewarding and thrilling reading experience i’ve had in 2024 (yes, i am incredibly lame and weird. i’ve accepted it)

i will NOT be rereading this but i may have no choice but to return to reference it at certain times. and i’m glad i stuck with it