ATP

• ATP

  Immediate source of energy for biological processes
• Nucleotide derivative

  Similar structure to nucleotide
• ATP made during respiration from ADP by adding Pi

  • condensation reaction
  • catalysed by ATP synthase enzyme
• ATP can be hydrolysed into ADP + Pi using ATP hydrolase enzyme
• ATP

  • Only one bond has to be hydrolysed to release energy
  • Small amount of energy needed
  • If Pi bonded onto different compound, compound gains energy (instead of surroundings) & becomes more reactive (phosphorylation)
• ATP 


  Made up of adenine, ribose and 3 phosphate groups
• Properties of ATP 


  • Releases energy in small, manageable amounts until you have enough
  • No energy wasted (cells don't over heat from wasted heat energy, won't run out)
  • Small, soluble molecule
  • Easily transported around cell (can move around cytoplasm, provide energy for chemical reactions)
  • Can't diffuse out of cell/no protein carriers to attach to all cells have constant/own supply of ATP
  • Glucose can via protein carrier/channels, cell can run out