ATP

What is the purpose of ATP?

Is an immediate source of energy for biological processes

What are the 3 components ATP consists of?

• Adenine (nitrogenous base)

• Ribose pentose sugar

• Three inorganic phosphate groups (Pi)

How is ATP an immediate energy source?

Only one bond has to be hydrolysed to release its energy

What is the enzyme used for the hydrolysis of ATP?

ATP hydrolase

What is the enzyme used for the condensation of ADP + Pi?

ATP synthase

Give the equation for ATP + water

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) + water → ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) + Pi (Energy)

Give the equation for ADP + Pi

ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) + Pi → ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) + water

What are the 5 key properties of ATP?

1. Releases energy in small, manageable amounts

2. Small and Soluble

3. Only one bond is broken/hydrolysed

4. Can transfer memory to other molecule

5. Can’t pass out of the cell

How does ATP releasing energy in small, manageable amounts benefit cells? How does this compare to glucose?

• No energy is wasted so cells are less likely to run out of resources

• Cells do not overheat

• Glucose releases large amounts of energy, resulting in energy waste

How does ATP being small and soluble benefit cells? How does this compare to glucose?

• ATP can move around the cytoplasm with ease

• This allows it to easily provide energy for chemical reactions within the cell

• Glucose also has this property

How does only one bond needing to be hydrolysed to release energy in ATP benefit cells? How does this compare to glucose?

• Means energy release is immediate

• Glucose would need several bonds to be broken to release all its energy

How does ATP transfer energy to other molecules? What is this called?

• The inorganic phosphate (Pi) released during hydrolysis of ATP can be bonded to make them more reactive.

• Phosphorylation

How does ATP’s ability to enable phosphorylation benefit other compounds? How does this compare to glucose?

• Makes other compounds more reactive

• Glucose cannot do this as it does not contain phosphate groups

How does ATP’s inability to pass out of the cell benefit cells? How does this compare to glucose?

• Cells always a a constant supply of ATP or ADP + Pi

• A cell can run out of glucose