- Adenine: A nitrogen containing Organic base
- Ribose: A sugar molecule with a 5-carbon ring structure (pentose sugar) acting as a backbone
- Phosphate A chain of three phosphate group
ATP is a nucleotide, it has strong bonds between the phosphates, therefore providing large amounts of energy when these bonds are broke. (albeit small in comparison to glucose)
Formation of a ATP synthase (or phosphorylation)
ATP + H2O -> ADP + P (+ energy)
Adenosine Water Adenosine Phosphorus
Triphosphate diphosphate
Water is required to breakdown the ATP molecules requiring the Enzyme ATPase (or ATP Hydrolase), thus being a hydrolysis reaction.
In phosphorylation, the adding of phosphate to ADP to create ATP
- There are 3 forms:
- Oxidative phosphorylation
Occurs in the membrane of mitochondria during aerobic respiration and provides the process of the electron transport chain
- Phosphorylation
Occurs in the thylakoid membrane in the chloroplast of plants only
- Substrate-level phosphorylation
Occurs when phosphate groups are transferred from donor molecules to ADP to make ATP (e.g. in glycolysis)
ATP vs Glucose
- ATP is more immediate than glucose as hydrolysis reactions are quick
- ATP to ADP is a single reaction, thus quicker however less energy is produced. ATP is more suitable for tasks that require a quick response in energy, however not in massive yields.
- Glucose is a complex reaction, therefore slower, however produces far more energy
Which reactions require ATP?
- Metabolic process
- Movement (muscle contractions)
- Active transport
- Secretion
- Activation of molecules
- Bioluminescence
- Adenine: A nitrogen containing Organic base
- Ribose: A sugar molecule with a 5-carbon ring structure (pentose sugar) acting as a backbone
- Phosphate A chain of three phosphate groups
ATP is a nucleotide, it has strong bonds between the phosphates, therefore providing large amounts of energy when these bonds are broke.
ATP properties:
- ATP stores a small unit of energy which is both suitable for the reactions which requires it as well as minimal energy is wasted as heat
- ATP is a small soluble molecule and therefore can easily be transported around the cell
- The ATP molecule is easily hydrolysed and so energy release is fast
- ATP is a simple molecule to reform
- ATP allows for other molecules to become more reactive as it can transfer one of its phosphate groups to them in phosphorylation
- ATP does not leave the cell it is produced in