ATP Flashcards
What does ATP stand for?
Adenosine triphosphate
What is ATP made up of?
Adenine (nitrogenous base)
Ribose (pentose sugar)
Three inorganic phosphate groups
What is the function of ATP?
To act as a source of energy for biological processes
Why are phosphate groups inorganic?
Phosphate groups are inorganic because they do not contain carbon atoms
When is ATP made? What is it made from? How is it made?
ATP is made during respiration from ADP. Through a condensation reaction between ADP and an inorganic phosphate, using the enzyme ATP synthase
What reactions makes ATP release energy?
Hydrolysis reaction
Describe what happens when ATP is hydrolysed
When ATP is hydrolysed it releases energy and ATP turns into ADP + Pi using the enzyme ATP synthase
Why is ATP described as an immediate energy source?
ATP only requires one bond to be hydrolysed in order to release energy and then the energy is released rapidly
ATP can also transfer energy to different compounds. How does this happen?
The inorganic phosphate released during the hydrolysis of ATP can be bonded onto different compounds to make them more reactive.
What is the name of the process involving “an inorganic phosphate bonding onto another compound to make it more reactive”?
This process is known as phosphorylation and this happens to glucose at the start of respiration to make it more reactive
ATP releases energy in small, manageable amounts, so no energy is wasted. What does this mean?
This means that cells do not overheat from wasted heat energy and cells are les likely to run out of resources. In comparison to glucose, that releases energy in large amounts resulting in wasted energy
ATP is small and soluble so it can easily be transported around the cell. What advantage does this give ATP in the cytoplasm?
ATP can move around the cytoplasm with ease to provide energy for chemical reactions within the cell. This is a property ATP has in common with glucose
Why is energy release so immediate in ATP?
Energy release is immediate in ATP because only one bond is needs to be hydrolysed whereas glucose requires several bonds to be broken to release all its energy
How does ATP transfer energy from one compound to another?
ATP can enable phosphorylation making other compounds more reactive. Glucose cannot do this, as it does not contain any phosphate groups
ATP cannot pass out of cell, what does this mean for the cell?
ATP cannot leave the cell, this means that all cells have a constant supply of ATP or ADP + Pi, but a cell can run out of glucose because glucose can leave a cell
