ATP and Energy Production in Cells

A collection of flashcards covering essential concepts regarding ATP, its synthesis, and the processes involved in energy production in cells.

What is ATP often referred to as?

The universal energy currency of cells.

What processes produce ATP?

Respiration and the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

How is ATP broken down for energy use?

It is broken down during biosynthesis, muscle contraction, and powering Na+/K+ pumps.

What is chemiosmosis?

The process of protons flowing back down an electrochemical gradient through ATP synthetase to produce ATP.

What role do protons play in ATP synthesis?

Protons create a proton gradient used to generate potential energy for ATP synthesis.

What is the function of ATP synthetase?

To synthesize ATP by utilizing the energy from proton gradients.

How do bacteria generate a proton gradient?

By pumping protons out of the cytoplasm into the space between the cell membrane and peptidoglycan layer.

What is oxidative phosphorylation?

The formation of ATP using energy derived from oxidation reactions.

What type of molecules transfer electrons during respiration?

Dehydrogenase enzymes transfer hydrogen atoms to coenzymes NAD and FAD.

What happens to energy not incorporated into ATP during respiration?

It is lost as heat.

What is the significance of the ATP synthetase complex?

It is a nano-machine that converts mechanical energy from proton flow into chemical energy in ATP.