Energy and ATP

• The ATP molecule consists of adenine, ribose and a chain of three phosphate groups.
• The bonds between the phosphate groups in the ATP molecule are unstable and can be broken, releasing a considerable amount of energy.
• In living cells, it is usually only the final phosphate group in the ATP molecule that is removed.
• The reaction of removing the final phosphate group from the ATP molecule is catalysed by the enzyme ATP hydrolase.
• The conversion of ATP to ADP is a reversible reaction.
• The reverse reaction of the conversion of ATP to ADP is catalysed by the enzyme ATP synthase.
• ATP is referred to as an immediate energy source for the cell.
• ATP can make an enzyme catalysed reaction take place more easily.
• ATP has three roles in plant cells.