Free Energy Changes


This section contains documents created from scanned original files and other
documents that could not be made accessible to screen reader software. A "#"
symbol is used to denote such documents.

Video Clips

Video RealVideo®
10:37 minutes (7:30 - 18:07)

Endergonic and exergonic reactions reflect changes in Gibbs free energy (δ G). Enzymes lower activation energy to speed up reaction.

Instructors: Prof. Eric Lander, Prof. Robert Weinberg, Dr. Claudette Gardel
Prior Knowledge: Chemical reactions and energetics is helpful
Back to Top
Video RealVideo®
17:42 minutes (15:27 - 33:09)

Changes in free energy drive chemical reactions. Gibbs free energy calculated using equilibrium constant under physiological conditions. Examples: Sucrose hydrolysis and deprotonation of acetic acid.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top
Video RealVideo®
4:44 minutes (42:35 - 47:19)

Effect of activation energy on reaction rate, and function of catalysts.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top

ATP

Video RealVideo®
4:30 minutes (9:31 - 14:01)

ATP as the energy currency. Energy released when ATP is hydrolyzed into ADP and inorganic phosphate.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top

Lecture Notes

Document PDF#
Page 1 to page 2

Chemical reactions are based on thermodynamics and kinetics. Free energy diagram shows the energy of reaction, and the effect of enzymes on the activation energy.

Instructors: Prof. Eric Lander, Prof. Robert Weinberg, Dr. Claudette Gardel
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top
Document PDF
Page 2

Definition, calculation, and significance of free energy (delta G) and the equilibrium constant (Keq) in biochemical reactions.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top
Document PDF
Page 1 to page 5

Definitions of oxidation and reduction. Examples and different representations of biological redox reactions. Delta E, delta G, the Nernst Equation and sample calculations.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top
Document PDF
Page 6

A list of half reactions (reductions) ordered by E values.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top

Practice Problems

Document PDF
Problem 2 (page 4)

Example involving reaction driven and regulated by ATP, concentration gradient, and change in free energy.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top
Document PDF
All Problems (All Pages)

Enzymes, catalytic pockets, and reaction energetics. Contains a figure of all amino acid side chains as well as single letter and triple letter abbreviations.

Instructors: Prof. Eric Lander, Prof. Robert Weinberg, Dr. Claudette Gardel
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top
Document PDF
Problem B (page 1)

Free energy, energy storage, spontaneous reactions, and the use of biological catalysts.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top

Exam Questions

Document PDF
Problem 3 (page 7)

Label parts of a basic free energy diagram and how enzymes change the diagram.

Instructors: Prof. Penny Chisholm, Prof. Graham Walker, Dr. Julia Khodor, Dr. Michelle Mischke
Prior Knowledge: None
Back to Top