1.6 ATP Flashcards
Structure of ATP.
- Three phosphate groups (triphosphate)
- A ribose sugar attached to adenine (adenosine)
Hydrolysis of ATP is catalysed by …
ATP hydrolase.
The hydrolysis of ATP forms which products?
ADP + Pi (Inorganic phosphate)
What is ATP?
ATP is a short-term store of chemical energy and is used to transfer energy in all energy-requiring processes in cells.
Why is ATP described as universal?
It is used in all organisms.
Give 2 ways in which the hydrolysis of ATP is used in cells.
- To provide energy for other reactions that require it
- To add phosphate to other substances and make them more reactive
How is ATP synthesised?
Condensation reaction between three phosphates, adenine and ribose, catalysed by ATP synthase.
Describe how ATP is re-synthesised in cells.
Re-synthesised from ADP and Pi by ATP synthase during respiration/photosynthesis
What features of ATP make it beneficial?
- Releases a small but sufficient amount of energy → minimises energy wastage
- Stable molecule → won’t be broken down unless a catalyst is present
- Can be rapidly recycled / re-synthesised → same molecule can be reused elsewhere in the cell for different reactions
- Hydrolysis is quick → releases energy instantaneously to respond to sudden increase in energy demand
- Phosphorylates other compounds (i.e. metabolites) → making them more reactive
- Is not lost from cells → new ATP does not need to synthesised
- Soluble and moves easily within cells → can transport energy to different areas in the cell
ATP vs DNA nucleotide.
Number of phosphates: ATP (3) / DNA (1)
Nitrogenous Base(s): ATP (Adenine) / DNA (ATCG)
Sugar: ATP (Ribose) / DNA (Deoxyribose)