3.1.6 ATP Flashcards
What is the structure of ATP?
See card
What is the process of breaking up ATP?
ATP = ADP + Pi
Hydrolysis reaction via ATP hydrolase (an enzyme)
What is Pi?
A phosphate group
Why does the breakdown of ATP release so much energy?
The bonds are broken which requires very little energy
The bonds formed between H20 and the two phosphate groups releases large amounts of energy
H goes to the larger molecule and OH goes to the phophate that is leaving ADP
Therefore the net release of energy is large
What happens to the phosphate that leaves the ADP molecule?
It can make up the cell membrane as a phospholipid
It can form a nucleotide by joining a base and a sugar
A phosphate joining something ‘phosphorylates’
What organelles produce ATP?
Mitochondria in animals
Chloroplasts in plants
What requires ATP?
Anything active in a cell needs ATP for energy
What is the difference between ATP and glucose?
ATP releases smaller quantities of energy which is more manageable
ATP breakdown is a one step process which releases immediate energy, glucose requires two steps
Can ADP be broken down?
Yes, the second phosphate bond is broken down
This releases less energy but is useful if there is no ATP available
What happens to something that becomes phosphorylated?
It becomes more reactive
What are the uses of ATP?
Metabolic processes: building macromolecules from basic units
Movement: energy for muscle contraction
Secretion: formation of lysosomes for secreting cell products
Activation of molecules: phosphate released can go on to form other molecules
Energy: for any active processes within the cell
What are the uses of phosphate in the body?
To make RNA
To make DNA;
To make ATP/ADP
To make membranes
For phosphorylation
