atp - adenosine triphosphate

metabolism

sum of all chemical reactions in our body

catabolism

break down of larger molecules, often releasing energy

anabolism

synthesis of larger molecules, often require energy

atp structure

adenine, ribose, 3 phopshate groups

how is atp used to release energy

when hydrolysed into adp and an inorganic phosphate, one of the phosphate bonds is broken which releases a lot of energy, reaction catalysed by atp hydrolase

phosphorylation

the addition of a phosphate group to a molecule to make it more reactive

oxidative phosphorylation

atp synthesis during respiration

photophosphorylation

atp synthesis during photosynthesis

substrate-level phosphorylation

atp synthesis directly through phosphate group transfer in cells

atp synthesis

atp⇌adp + pi + 30kJ/mol

why atp is a better source of energy than glucose

releases energy in small manageable bursts, atp synthesis is a single reaction but glucose breakdown takes a long time, atp is mobile, universal energy carrier so can be used in many chemical reactions