ATP

What are some biological processes that require energy?

Muscle contraction, cell division and the transmission of nerve impulses.

What are some of the forms energy comes in?

Heat, light and the energy in chemical bonnds.

What must energy be supplied in?

The right form and quantity tothe processes that require it.

What are the three types of activity cells require energy for?

• Synthesis.

• Transport.

• Movement.

Inside cells, what molecules supply energy?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

What is an ATP molecule composed of?

A nitrogenous base, pentose sugar and three phosphate groups.

What is the sugar in ATP?

Ribose.

What is the base in ATP?

Adenine.

How many phosphate groups does ATP have?

Three.

What is ATP used for?

Energy transfer in all cells of all living things.

What is needed to break bonds?

Energy.

What is released when bonds are formed?

Energy.

How much energy is needed to break the relatively weak bond holding the last phosphate group in ATP?

A small amount.

As water is involved in the removal of the phosphate group, what is it an example of?

A hydrolysis reaction

Does the hydrolysis of ATP happpen in isolation?

No, but in association with energy requiring reactions. The reactions are said to be ‘coupled‘ as they happen simultaneously.

What is ATP hydrolysed into?

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and a phosphate ion, releasing energy.

What does the instability of the phosphate bonds in ATP mean?

It is not a good long term energy store.

What is the energy released in cellular respiration used to create?

ATP.

What is phosphorylation?

When a phosphat group is (re)attached to an ADP molecule.

How is phosphorylation a condensation reaction?

Water is removed.

Why do cells not store large amounts of ATP?

Due to its instability.

What is ATP rapidly conformed by?

The phosphorylation of ADP. This interconversion of ATP and ADP is happening in all living cells, meaning they do not need a large store of ATP making a good immediate energy store.

What does the structure and properties of ATP mean?

That it is ideally suited to carry out its function in energy transfer.

What is the structure of ATP?

• Small.

• Water soluble.

• Contains bonds between phosphates with intermediate energy: .

• Released energy in small quantities.

• Easily regenerated.

What does ATP being small mean?

It moves easily into, out of and within cells.

Why is ATP being water soluble important ?

Energy requiring processes happen in aqueous environments.

What does ATP containing bonds between phosphates with intermediate energy mean?

It is large enough to be used for cellular reactions but not so large that energy is wasted as heat.

What is ATP being released in small quantities important?

Quantities are suitable to most cellular needs, so that energy is not wasted as heat.

What does ATP being easilt regenerated mean?

It can be recharged with energy.