Energy and ATP Flashcards
In what 3 processes is ATP synthesised in?
photophosphorylation
oxidative phosphorylation
substrate-level phosphorylation
What are the 3 parts of ATP?
Adenine- a nitrogen containing organic base
Ribose- a pentose sugar that acts as a backbone
Phosphates- 3 “tri”
How does ATP provide energy?
The bonds between the phosphates are easily broken as they’re unstable and have a low activation energy. The hydrolysis of this bond releases energy.
Why is ATP a better immediate energy source than glucose?
It releases energy in small manageable chunks in a single reaction whereas the breakdown of glucose would take much longer and therefore energy release would take much longer. Energy released from glucose is in much greater chunks and is therefore less manageable.
Describe the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of ATP to ADP and vice versa.
ATP + H2O -> ADP + Pi + Energy
This direction is hydrolysis as water is required to break the bonds. It is catalysed by ATP hydrolyse.
The other direction is condensation and therefore produces water in the process of forming a bond, it is catalysed by ATP synthase.
How is ATP used in metabolic processes?
ATP provides the basic energy required to build up macromolecules from their subunits. For example, making starch from glucose.
How is ATP used in movement?
ATP provides energy for muscle contraction. It provides the energy for muscle filaments to slide past each other and therefore shorten the overall length of a muscle fibre.
How is ATP used in active transport?
Provides energy to change the shape of the carrier proteins in the plasma membrane.
How is ATP used in secretion?
Needed to form lysosomes necessary for cell secretion.
How is ATP used in the activation of molecules?
Phosphorylate other molecules to make them more reactive which lowers the activation energy for enzyme catalysed reactions, e.g. at the beginning of glycolysis.
How is ATP stored?
ATP cannot be stored and so has to be continuously made within the mitochondria of the cells that need it, in the process of respiration.
