(3.1.6) ATP

Question 1

what is ATP’s full name?

Answer 1

adenosine triphosphate.

Question 2

what is ATP composed of?

Answer 2

• a molecule of ribose sugar
• adenine, an nitrogenous base
• three phosphate groups

Question 3

how does the structure of ATP differ from the structure of DNA?

Answer 3

• ATP has ribose sugar whereas DNA has deoxyribose sugar
• ATP has three phosphate group whereas DNA nucleotide only has one phosphate group
• nitrogenous base is always adenine in ATP whereas bases vary in DNA nucleotide (A,C,G or T);

Question 4

how do enzyme aid with the hydrolysis and production of ATP?

Answer 4

• ATP hydrolase catalyses the hydrolysis of ATP to make ADP and an inorganic phosphate ion
• ATP synthase catalyses the condensation of ADP and Pi to make ATP, during photosynthesis or aerobic respiration

Question 5

why is ATP used as a universal energy source?

Answer 5

• releases relatively small amount of energy
• releases energy instantaneously
• inorganic phosphate ion phosphorylates other compounds, making them more reactive
• can be rapidly re-synthesised by ATP synthase
• does not leave cells through cell surface membranes