A thermodynamic principle for the coupled bioenergetic processes of ATP synthesis

Abstract

Based on a nonequilibrium thermodynamic description of the coupled bioenergetic processes of ATP synthesis, I show for the first time that the entropy production depends on the physical system of coupling; completely delocalized coupling leads to minimum rate of entropy production in the steady state. Further, when nonlinear processes are considered, the free energy dissipation exhibits a minimum at the operating distance from equilibrium. These results agree with experimental observations. The principle proposed here accurately predicts the coupling system and the distance from equilibrium in fundamental life processes.