ATP Flashcards
Describe the 3 part structure of ATP
Adenine is a nitrogen containing organic base
Ribose is a sugar molecule with a 5 carbon ring structure that acts as a backbone
Phosphates is a chain of 3 phosphate groups
How does ATP store energy?
The 3 phosphate groups in ATP have unstable bonds between them
This means they have low activation energy, so they are easily broken.
When these bonds break they release a large amount of energy
ATP + H20 = ADP + P + energy
This is a hydrolysis reaction as water is used, added to ATP
What is the enzyme used to catalyse the hydrolysis of ATP
ATP hydrolase
How is ATP syntheisised?
The hydrolysis of ATP is a reversible reaction
Energy can be used to add inorganic phosphate to ADP to reform ATP.
Water is removed, so this is a condensation reaction
When does the synthesis of ATP from ADP occur?
In chlorphyll containing plant cells during photosynthesis
In plant and animal cells during respiration
In plant and animal cells when phosphate groups are transferred from donor molecules to ADP
What type of energy source does ATP act as?
An immediate energy source because of its weak phosphate bonds. This means cells do not store large quantities of ATP.
Hydrolysis of ATP is a single reaction releasing immediate energy, saving time
Describe how ATP is used in metabolic processes
ATP provides the energy needed to build up macromolecules from their basic units
How is ATP used in movement?
Provides energy for muscle contraction, gives energy for filaments of a muscle to slide past each other and shorten the length of a muscle fibre
How is ATP used in active transport?
Provides energy to change the shape of carrier proteins in plasma membranes, allowing molecules and ions to be moved against a conc gradient
How is ATP used in secretion?
Provides energy needed to form the lysosymes needed for secretion of cell products
How is ATP used in the activation of molecules/ making them more reactive?
The inorganic phosphate released in hydrolysis of ATP can be used to phosphlorate other compounds in order to make them more reactive
This lowers the activation energy of enzyme catalysed reactions
Benefit of ATP as an energy source?
Can be readily used to provide energy
Can be rapidly resyntheisised Phosphlorates other compounds to make them more reactive
Why is ATP a better energy source than glucose?
- Each ATP molecule releases alot less energy than a glucose molecule, meaning the energy for reactions is therefore managable in smaller quantities
- Whereas glucose releases energy in large quantities making it unmanagable to use and could result in wasted energy
- Only one bond in ATP is hydrolysed in order to release energy, meaning it is immediate however glucose would need alot more bonds broken in order to release all of its energy, wasting time
-It can transfer its energy to another molecule by transferring one of its phosphate groups, ATP can enable phosphloration making compounds more reactive however glucose cannot as it has no phosphate groups
-ATP cannot pass out of the cell making sure the cell has an immediate energy source whereas glucose
Give a property that ATP has in common with glucose
-Both small and soluble to be easily transported around the cell
- ATP can move around the cytoplasm easily to provide energy to organelles for chemical reactions in the cell, like glucose
