Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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PV: Plenarvorträge

PV XI

PV XI: Plenary Talk

Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 14:00–14:45, HSZ 01

Motions in the molecular machinery powering life — •Gerhard Hummer — Abteilung Theoretische Biophysik, Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, 60438 Frankfurt am Main

The molecular machines powering living organisms are highly efficient energy transducers that interconvert chemical, mechanical, electrical, and light energy. We use molecular simulations and statistical mechanical theory to identify and quantify the molecular mechanisms underlying biological energy conversion processes. Central questions are how simple redox reactions in mitochondria drive the pumping of protons across a membrane against a potential of ∼0.2 V, without violation of the laws of thermodynamics; how the resulting electrical and chemical potentials in turn drive the rotary molecular motor ATP synthase; and how this rotation is coupled to the regeneration of ATP, the energy currency of live. Remarkably, common physical principles emerge in the function of the energy-transducing proteins, despite large variations in their structure and function.