Biological Energy Sources

Question 1

What makes ATP hydrolysis so energetically favorable?

Answer 1

There is a concentration of negative charges on the phosphates in ATP. These negative charges on the phosphates contribute to the high energy of the phosphoanhydride bonds connecting them. Breaking these bonds will lead to a release of energy and stabilization of the negatively charged phosphate groups. This makes the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP energetically favorable.

Question 2

In the ETC, how do the reduction potentials of the complexes change?

Answer 2

In order to keep moving through the necessary steps, the reduction potentials of each succeeding complex must increase. Oxygen has the highest reduction potential and so the electrons will end up going to oxygen and, along with a couple of protons, forming H2O.

Question 3

When is GLUT4 upregulated?

Answer 3

High blood glucose concentration, high insulin blood concentration