ATP structure and energy

• ATP stands for adenine triphosphate which is used as a main energy source in cells
• ATP can be resynthesized by hydrolysis of a substance called phosphocreatine
• how ATP carries energy:

  1. ATP is broken down into ADP and inorganic phosphate
  2. in a hydrolysis reaction, a phosphate bond is broken and energy released to be catalysed by the enzyme ATP hydrolase
  3. ATP hydrolysis, can be coupled to other reactions (instead of being lost as heat)
  4. phosphorylation occurs releasing an organic phosphate can be added to another compound often making the compound more reactive
  5. ATP can then be resynthesized in a condensation reaction between ADP and P. ATP synthase catalyses it during both respiration and photosynthesis.
• ATP synthase helps protons transfer through the phospholipid bilayer. The potential energy causes the phosphorylation of ADP and water is formed as well as ATP molecules as the e- carriers move into the matrix
• ATP:

  • release less energy
  • released in small manageable amounts
  • simple chemical reaction
  • immediate source of energy
• Glucose:

  • release more energy
  • released in large unmanageable amounts
  • complex chemical reaction
  • slower source of energy
• ATP uses:

  • metabolic processes
  • movement
  • active transport
  • secretion
• phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate group to a molecule