State Probabilities and Fluxes in Terms of the Rate Constants of the Diagram

Abstract

The basic principles of free energy transduction were introduced in Chapter 1. Steady-state probabilities and especially forces and fluxes played a prominent role in the discussion. One important topic was bypassed, however, which is covered in the present chapter: How are the state probabilities and the fluxes related to the firstorder rate constants of α _ij of the kinetic diagram? This subject does not add much to the general concept of free energy transduction per se, but it is essential to an understanding of the steady-state kinetic activity of the cyclic system that carries out the free energy transduction. Section 6 deals with state probabilities (and fluxes in very simple systems) and Section 7 is concerned with fluxes and related kinetic topics. Section 8 is essentially an appendix on recent and more advanced topics related to cycles and diagrams.