Energy, control and DNA structure in the living cell

Maintenance (let alone growth) of the highly ordered living cell is only possible through the continuous input of free energy. Coupling of energetically downhill processes (such as catabolic reactions) to uphill processes is essential to provide this free energy and is catalyzed by enzymes either directly or via “storage” in an intermediate high energy form, i.e., high ATP/ADP ratio or H + ion gradient. Although maintenance of a sufficiently high ATP/ADP ratio is essential to overcome the thermodynamic burden of uphill processes, it is not clear to what degree enzymes that control this ratio also control cell physiology. Indeed, in the living cell homeostatic control mechanisms might exist for the free-energy transduction pathways so as to prevent perturbation of cellular function when the Gibbs energy supply is compromised. This presentation addresse the extent to which the intracellular ATP level is involved in the control of cell physiology, how the elaborate control of cell function may be analyzed theoretically and quantitatively, and if this can be utilized selectively to affect certain cell types.