Overview

The topic of the 29th Hosbach Colloquium Energy Transduction in Biological Membranes is one of the most formidable problems in biology. Its solu- tion in molecular terms has proved to be a very difficult task for a whole generation of biochemists. The Mosbach Colloquia had so far not yet covered this subject. In for- mer Mosbach Colloquia some contributions were closely related, such as the lecture by E. C. Slater on the mitochondrial respiratory chain, presented 25 years ago. A broader coverage of this subject was given in the Mosbach Colloquia on Biochemistry of Oxygen in 1968, and on Inhib- itors: Too ls in Ce II Research in 1 969, which contained several lectures related to bioenergetics. Today progress and understanding of the energy transduction in biolog- ical membranes had advanced to the stage where we can formulate reli- able theories on many facets of the energy transduction process. On the other hand, the primary energy conservation steps are as contro- versial as ever and challenge the field for an all-out effort for re- solving these burning problems. The 29th !1osbach Colloquium has given a broad and vivid picture of this situation, illustrating the progress and also the controversial problems currently debated.