nucleic acids Flashcards
What is ATP often referred to as?
‘Energy currency’ of the cell
What is the primary function of ATP in cells?
Energy transfer
ATP stands for _______.
adenosine triphosphate
What are the three main components of ATP?
- Adenine
- Ribose
- 3 phosphate groups
List four uses of ATP in the body.
- Movement
- Active transport
- Synthesis of large molecules
- Secretion of substances
How does ATP activate molecules?
By phosphorylating them
What type of reaction breaks down ATP?
Hydrolysis
What is the result of ATP hydrolysis?
ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi)
What enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP?
ATP hydrolase
What type of reaction synthesizes ATP?
Condensation
What enzyme catalyzes the synthesis of ATP?
ATP synthase
What is released during the condensation reaction to reform ATP?
Water
True or False: ATP is an effective long-term energy store.
False
List two features that allow ATP to work well as an immediate energy source.
- Releases a small amount of energy
- Broken down in one step
What makes ATP rapidly re-synthesized?
It is always readily available
What happens to the inorganic phosphate from ATP hydrolysis?
It can phosphorylate other compounds
Why are the bonds between the phosphate groups in ATP considered unstable?
They have a low activation energy and are easily broken
What property of ATP allows it to be easily transported around cells?
Solubility
