The study of energy transduction within biological systems.
Transduction, in this context, literally is change and bioenergetics considers how energy is changed from one form into another by biological systems. For example, from the energy of photons (kinetic energy) to the reduction of, a.k.a., gain of electrons by atoms such as those in chlorophyll molecules – to energy associated with concentration gradients across lipid bilayers (such as a proton motive force) to the energy in chemical bonds (e.g., C-H bonds in glucose).
The three most prominent biochemical "pathways" considered under the heading of bioenergetics are glycolysis, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis. The most prominent molecule is ATP.
The following is a list of major concepts associated with the science of bioenergetics:
Aerobic respiration,
ADP,
Anaerobic respiration,
ATP,
ATP synthase,
Bioenergetics,
Calvin cycle,
Carbon fixation,
Cellular respiration,
Chemiosmosis,
Chemotroph,
Chlorophyll,
Cyclic electron flow,
Dark reaction (of photosynthesis),
Deamination,
Electrochemical gradient,
Electron transport chain,
Energy coupling,
FAD,
FADH2,
Fermentation,
Final electron acceptor,
Generation of proton motive force,
Glucose oxidation,
Glycolysis,
Glycolysis (stoichiometry),
Krebs cycle,
Light reaction (of photosynthesis),
Membrane potential,
Metabolic water,
Mitochondria,
NAD+,
NAD regeneration,
NADH,
Noncyclic electron flow,
Oxidation of water,
Oxidative phosphorylation,
Oxidizing agent,
Photophosphorylation,
Photosynthesis,
Photosynthesis (overall reaction),
Photosystems,
Photosystem I,
Photosystem II,
Phototroph,
Primary electron acceptor,
Proton motive force,
Proton pump,
Pyruvate oxidation,
Reaction center,
Redox,
Reducing agent,
Reduction of oxygen,
Substrate-level phosphorylation,
Z scheme