I will start by introducing the fundamentals of thermodynamics of open chemical reaction networks (CRNs) and discuss how this theory can be used to assess the energetic cost of various biologically relevant operations. I will then present a circuit theory of CRNs which, like electrical circuit theory, can be used to describe complex CRNs in terms of modules characterized by the chemical analogues of a current-voltage characteristics and of Kirchhoff current and voltage laws. Energy transduction in central metabolism will be discussed as an application.
References:
- R. Rao and M. Esposito, "Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics of Chemical Reaction Networks: Wisdom from Stochastic Thermodynamics", Phys. Rev. X 6, 041064 (2016)
- F. Avanzini, N. Freitas and M. Esposito, "Circuit Theory for Chemical Reaction Networks", Phys. Rev. X 13, 021041 (2023)
- A. Wachtel, R. Rao and M. Esposito, "Free-Energy Transduction in Chemical Reaction Networks: From Enzymes to Metabolism", J. Chem. Phys. 157, 024109 (2022)
