ATP & ADP Flashcards
What does ATP stand for?
Adenosine triphosphate
What does ADP stand for?
Adenosine diphosphate
How do you phosphorylate a nucleotide?
To phosphorylate a nucleotide, you add one or more phosphate groups to it.
What makes up ADP?
- Base Adenine
- Sugar Ribose
- Two phosphate groups
What makes up ATP?
- Base Adenine
- Sugar Ribose
- Three phosphate groups
What are the 6 key properties of ATP?
- Small
- Water soluble
- Contains bonds between phosphates with intermediate energy
- Releases energy is small amounts
- Easily regenerated
- Unstable
How does being small help ATP?
easy to move into, out of and around cells
How does being water soluble help ATP?
Energy requiring processes happen in aqueous environments
How does ATP containing bonds between phosphates with intermediate energy help ATP?
large enough to be useful for cellular reactions but not so large that energy is wasted as heat
How does releasing energy in small amounts help ATP?
Energy is not wasted as heat
How does ATP being easily generated help it?
Can be recharged with energy
How does being unstable help ATP?
Not stored in large amounts, but is rapidly reformed by the phosphorylation of ADP.
What are the three main types of cellular activities that require energy?
Synthesis: Formation of larger molecules, such as proteins.
Transport: Active transport of molecules or ions across cell membranes.
Movement: For example, the contraction of muscle cells using protein fibers.
What molecule provides energy for these 3 cellular activities?
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) provides the energy in a usable form.
Why isn’t ATP a good long-term energy store?
The phosphate bonds in ATP are unstable, making it unsuitable for long-term energy storage. Fats and carbohydrates are better long-term stores.
