2.3 — ATP Flashcards
what is ATP a derivative of?
nucleotides
what does ATP stand for?
adenosine triphosphate
what does ATP consist of?
- adenine — nitrogenous base
- ribose — pentose sugar
- phosphates — 3 phosphate groups
what are the uses of ATP?
- movement — such as muscle contraction or for sperm cells to swim
- active transport of molecules across the concentration gradient — such as ions entering plant roots
- synthesis of large molecules — such as DNA and proteins
- secretion of substances from cells — such as releasing hormones from glands
what are some examples of ATP being used for movement?
muscle contraction or for sperm cells to swim
what is an example of ATP being used for active transport of molecules against the concentration gradient?
ions entering plant roots
what are some examples of ATP being used for synthesis of large molecules?
DNA and proteins
what is an example of ATP being used for secretion of substances from cells?
releasing hormones from glands
how can ATP activate molecules?
by phosphorylating them
what is phosphorylation?
when ATP is hydrolysed, the phosphate can be added to other molecules, such as enzymes, to make them more reactive
how is ATP broken down?
through hydrolysis
what is hydrolysis?
the addition of water to break a chemical bond between two molecules
how is ATP re-synthesised?
through condensation
what is condensation?
the removal of water to form a chemical bond between two molecules
what forms after ATP is hydrolysed?
adenosine diphophate (ADP) and an inorganic phosphate (Pi)
what does ADP stand for?
adenosine diphosphate
what enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of ATP?
ATP hydrolase
what does the hydrolysis of ATP do?
produces ADP and Pi alongside energy that is released and used in cells
what enzyme catalyses the condensation of ADP and Pi?
ATP synthase
what does the condensation of ADP and Pi do?
produces ATP and requires energy, trapping it as chemical energy in the bond formed
what type of energy source is ATP?
ATP is an immediate energy source and does not function well as a long-term energy store
what features allow ATP to work well as an immediate energy source?
- the hydrolysis of ATP releases a small amount of energy, meaning little energy is lost to heat
- ATP is broken down in one step, meaning energy is released quickly
- ATP is rapidly re-synthesised so that ATP is always readily available
- the inorganic phosphate from ATP hydrolysis can phosphorylate other compounds, which makes them more reactive
- the bonds between the phosphate groups are unstable, have a low activation energy and are easily broken
- ATP is soluble, so it can be easily transported around cells
