ATP Flashcards
1
Q
What does ATP stand for?
A
Adenosine triphosphate.
2
Q
What does ADP stand for?
A
Adenosine diphosphate.
3
Q
When one molecule of ATP is broken by hydrolysis - what is formed?
A
ADP and Pi (inorganic phosphate). It also releases lots of energy.
4
Q
Why can ATP not be stored in the cell in large amounts?
A
Because it’s unstable.
5
Q
Is ATP water soluble?
A
Yes.
6
Q
Why is ATP often referred to as the “energy currency” of cells?
A
Because it stores and releases energy for cellular activity.
7
Q
What enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of ATP?
A
ATP Hydrolase.
8
Q
What enzyme catalyses the condensation reaction between ADP and Pi to form ATP?
A
ATP Synthase.
9
Q
What are the uses of ATP?
A
- Metabolic processes ~ ATP provides the energy needed to build macromolecules from their basic units.
- Movement ~ ATP provides the energy required for muscle contraction, ATP provides energy for filaments of muscle to slide past one another to shorten overall length of muscle fibre.
- Active transport ~ ATP provides energy to change shape of carrier ions in plasma membranes. This allows molecules/ions to move against concentration gradient.
- Secretion ~ ATP is needed to form lysosomes which are necessary for the secretion of products from the cell.
- Activation of molecules ~ The inorganic phosphate released during the hydrolysis of ATP can be used to phosphorylate other compounds in order to make them more reactive (this lowers the activation energy of enzyme catalysed reactions).
10
Q
What are the properties of ATP?
A
- Release small amounts of energy which are manageable for the cell and do not cause it to overheat and denature proteins.
- Small and soluble so can be easily transported around the body.
- A good immediate source of energy as the hydrolysis of only one bond is required.
- Can be used to transfer energy to other molecules through the attachment of a phosphate (phosphorylation).
- Does not leave the cell as it is a charged molecule which cannot cross the phospholipid bilayer.
