ATP

Question 1

What is the structure of ATP?

Answer 1

RIbose, a molecule of adenine, and 3 phosphate groups.
Structure of ADP is the same but has 2 phosphates instead of 3.

Question 2

What occurs in ATP Hydrolysis?

Answer 2

• ATP ->ADP + Pi
• Catalysed by the enzyme ATP hydrolase
• Bonds between inorganic phosphate groups are high energy bonds so by breaking one of these bonds a small amount of energy is released
• It can be coupled to energy requiring reactions within cells, to provide energy for things like active transport and protein synthesis
• The inorganic phosphate released can be used to phosphorylate other compounds

Question 3

What are the properties of ATP that make it a suitable immediate energy source?

Answer 3

• ATP releases energy in small, manageable amounts (so no energy wasted)
• Only one bond is hydrolysed (single reaction) to release energy (which is why energy release is immediate)