Minireview: demystifying microbial reaction energetics

Summary The biology literature is rife with misleading information on how to quantify catabolic reaction energetics. The principal misconception is that the sign and value of the standard Gibbs energy ( ) define the direction and energy yield of a reaction; they do not. is one part of the actual Gibbs energy of a reaction ( ΔG r ), with a second part accounting for deviations from the standard composition. It is also frequently assumed that applies only to 25 °C and 1 bar; it does not. is a function of temperature and pressure. Here, we review how to determine ΔG r as a function of temperature, pressur