ATP

Structure of ATP

  • Adenosine Triphosphate

  • A nucleotide derivative. it has similar structure nucleotides of DNA and RNA

  • Made of 3 part - Adenine, Ribose sugar, 3 phosphate groups

Uses of ATP

  • Movement - muscle contraction

  • Active Transport - moving molecules against a concentration gradient

  • Synthesis of Large Molecules - such as DNA and proteins

  • Secretion of Substances - releasing hormones from glands

  • ATP can also activate by phosphorylating them, when ATP is hydrolysed the P can be added to other molecules to make them more reactive

ATP reactions

  • Broken by hydrolysis, formed throughh condensation

  • ATP + H2O— ADP + P

  • When water is added, ATP — ADP (Adenosine diphosphate) + Inorganic Phosphate, catalysed by ATP hydrolase

  • ADP + P — ATP + H2O

  • When ADP and a phosphate group join a water molecule is releases, catalysed by ATP synthase

How the poroperties of ATP relate to its function

  • Hydrolysis of ATP releases small amount of energy, less lost to heat

  • ATP broken in one step - energy released quickly

  • ATP is rapidly re-synthesised so that ATP is always readily available

  • Inorganic Phosphat from ATP hydrolysis can phosporylate compunds making them more reactive

  • Bonds between P groups are unstable - low activation energy and easily broken

  • ATP is soluble - easily transported around cells