1.ATP-ADP-cycle_revised.pdf-flashcards

ATP: The Energy Currency of Cells

  • Primary Role: ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) serves as the central energy currency in living systems.

    • Provides energy to fuel various biological processes.

Metabolic Pathways

  • Types: There are two main types of metabolic pathways.

    • Catabolic Pathways: These pathways break down larger molecules to release energy.

    • Anabolic Pathways: In contrast, these pathways build larger molecules, requiring an input of energy.

Energy Storage in ATP

  • Mechanism: Energy is stored in ATP primarily in high-energy bonds between its phosphate groups.

    • Special emphasis on the bond of the third phosphate group as a key site of energy storage.

Hydrolysis of ATP

  • Process: During hydrolysis, a water molecule is utilized to cleave off a phosphate group from ATP.

    • This releases energy that can be harnessed for cellular processes.

Synthesis of ATP

  • Process Name: The synthesis of ATP from ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate is termed dehydration synthesis.

Electron Carriers

  • Definition: Electron carriers are molecules that transport electrons during metabolic reactions.

    • Essential for energy transfer and storage within living systems.

Redox Reactions in Cellular Respiration

  • Significance: Redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions play a critical role in cellular respiration.

    • These reactions release energy by breaking down organic molecules, facilitating the synthesis of ATP.

Role of Enzymes in Metabolism

  • Function: Enzymes catalyze metabolic reactions by lowering the activation energy required for reactions to occur.

    • They enable reactions to proceed more efficiently and without the need for a surplus of energy.

Energy Acquisition in Plants

  • Process: Plants obtain energy through the process of photosynthesis.

    • They capture sunlight, converting it into chemical energy stored primarily in glucose.

Energy Coupling: Exergonic and Endergonic Reactions

  • Relationship: There exists a relationship between exergonic and endergonic reactions in terms of energy coupling.

    • Exergonic reactions release energy, which can then be used to facilitate endergonic reactions that require energy, thereby creating a cell-efficient energy transfer system.