lecture 11 - ATP potentials

Question 1

What is the first property of ATP that makes it the major energy currency?

Answer 1

Relief of electrostatic repulsion when terminal phosphate hydrolysed. Little tendency for ADP and pi to rejoin.

Question 2

What is the second property of ATP that makes it the major energy currency?

Answer 2

Inorganic phosphate undergoes stabilisation as a resonance hybrid.

Question 3

What is the third property of ATP that makes it the major energy currency?

Answer 3

Greater salvation of ADP and Pi , relative to ATP. Further stabilising products relative to reactants

Question 4

what is the fourth property of ATP that makes it the major energy currency?

Answer 4

2 reactants = 3 products. Positive entropy.

Question 5

Does ATP react spontaneously?

Answer 5

NO - specific enzymes are required to catalyse phosphorylation group transfer.

Question 6

How is ATP synthesis driven?

Answer 6

ATP stores energy in kinetically stable form. When energy is needed , an enzyme is used to catalyse ATP breakdown, releasing the free energy to drive a reaction.

Question 7

Is ATP thermodynamically and kinetically stable?

Answer 7

ATP is kinetically stable but thermodynamically unstable in aqueous solution at pH 7