3.11 ATP Flashcards
What does ATP stand for?
Adenosine triphosphate
What is ATP?
The energy carrier in all cells, a short-term energy store
Describe the structure of ATP.
-3 phosphate groups attached to a central pentose sugar (ribose)
-On the opposite end, a base is attached to the ribose (adenine)
What is the name for the reaction involving the breakdown of ATP?
Hydrolysis
What catalyses the breakdown of ATP?
ATP hydrolase
State the equation for the breakdown of ATP.
ATP + H2O –> Pi + ADP + E
alternatively
ATP + Water –> Inorganic Phosphate + Adenosine Diphosphate + Energy
When does hydrolysis of ATP occur?
When energy-requiring reactions need to take place. Happens in association with these reactions.
What type of nucleotide is ATP?
A phosphorylated RNA nucleotide
What makes ATP a good short-term energy store?
The unstable phosphate bonds in ATP.
What type of molecules are long-term energy stores?
Fats and carbohydrates
When are fats and carbohydrates broken down?
In cellular respiration to release energy.
What happens to the energy released from the breakdown of fats and carbs?
The energy released is used to create ATP, by reattaching a phosphate group to an ADP molecule.
What is the name of the reaction that forms ATP?
Phosphorylation.
State the equation for the formation of ATP.
ADP + Inorganic phosphate –> ATP + H2O
alternatively
ADP + Pi –> ATP + H2O
What catalyses phosphorylation?
ATP Synthase
What type of reaction is phosphorylation?
Condensation
Why do cells not store large amount of ATP?
Because of the instability of it. ATP is rapidly reformed by the phosphorylation of ADP.
How frequently is the interconversion of ATP and ADP happening?
Constantly, in all living cells.
Where is ATP synthesised?
In reactions that release energy
Where is ATP hydrolysed?
In reactions that need energy
What are the 3 main types of activity that cells need energy for?
Synthesis, transport and movement.
What makes ATP ideally suited to carry out its function?
The structure and properties of it.
What are the properties and features of ATP?
-Small
-Water soluble
-Contains bonds between phosphates with intermediate energy
-Releases energy in small quantities
-Easily regenerated
What is the purpose of ATP being small?
So it can easily move in, out and within cells
Why is ATP water soluble?
So it can easily diffuse throughout the cell, and because energy-requiring processes happen in aqueous environments.
Why is it important that the phosphate bonds in ATP have intermediate energy?
So that the energy released is large enough to be useful for cellular reactions, but not so large that energy is wasted as heat.
What type of energy source is ATP?
An intermediate, immediate and short-term energy source.
