ATP In Cells
By Bhavya Vats
This Photo by Unkno wn auth or is licensed u nder CC BY-SA.
What is ATP?
• In biology, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an
essential chemical that acts as the main energy
transporter in cells. After biological processes like
cellular respiration, ATP is used to store chemical
energy that is released after the breakdown of food
molecules (like glucose).
• The three primary components of ATP are as follows:
• A nitrogenous base is adenine.
• A molecule of sugar is ribose.
• Ribose connects to three groups of phosphates.
Why do we need ATP?
• Chemical energy is needed by cells for three main kinds of tasks:
• In order to move metabolic processes that wouldn't happen naturally:
• Protein Synthesis: During translation, ATP is needed to create peptide connections between
amino acids. This Photo by Unkno wn auth or is licensed u nder CC BY-SA.
• Endocytosis and exocytosis: ATP is needed for the production and movement of vesicles, which
are used in both processes to transport big molecules into and out of cells.
• The synthesis of new DNA strands by DNA polymerases, the unwinding of DNA helices by
helicases, and other repair processes that correct damage to DNA all require ATP.
• To move necessary materials through membranes:
• Primary transport: the movement of molecules against a concentration gradient across a
membrane.
• The sodium-potassium pump, also known as the Na+/K+ pump, transports potassium ions into
the cell and sodium ions out of it.
• To do mechanical work, such as moving muscles.
This Photo by Unkno wn auth or is licensed u nder CC BY.
How does ATP work?
• A chemical process known as hydrolysis occurs when a molecule is joined
by a water molecule to divide into two halves. Here's what occurs when ATP
is hydrolyzed:
• Water splitting: This process breaks an ATP link using a water molecule
(H2O).
• The release of a phosphate group is the bond that occurs between the ATP's
second and third phosphate groups.
• ADP is produced when ATP loses one phosphate group during this process.
• A molecule of inorganic phosphate (Pi) is liberated.
• This process results in the release of energy.
• From Where Does the Energy Originate?
• Energy Is Needed to Break Bonds: Energy is needed to split the link that holds
the second and third phosphate groups in ATP together.
• New Bond Formation Releases Energy: New bonds are created when water
splits and releases the phosphate group. More energy is released by these
new bonds than was required to break the previous one.
• Release of Net Energy:
• Overall, there is a net release of energy from the process.
• Approximately 30.7 kilojoules (kJ) of energy are released for each mole of ATP
that is hydrolyzed.
How is ATP made?
• The metabolic processes and
activities that occur in an organism's
cells to transform chemical energy
from nutrients into ATP and then
release waste products together are
referred to as cellular respiration.
Glycolysis: happens in the cytoplasm
• The process known as glycolysis splits the six-
carbon glucose ring into two molecules, known as
pyruvic acids or pyruvate molecules, each with three
carbons. For glycolysis to function, two ATPs must be
invested. In the end, four ATPs are produced, giving a
net profit of two ATPs. Glycolysis produces four ATPs in
addition to two pyruvates and two extremely energy-
dense morsels known as NADH.
• For example, glycolysis is an anaerobic process
because it may occur without oxygen. The pyruvates
produced by glycolysis are sent into a process known
as fermentation when there is no oxygen present. The
cell needs extra NAD+ to maintain the glycolysis
process if there is no oxygen present. Fermentation
thus releases some NAD+.
Krebs Cycle: happens in the inner
membrane of mitochondria
Enzymes help in the bonding of acetyl
coA and oxaloacetic acid, a 4-carbon
molecule. When combined, they
create citric acid, a molecule with six
carbons. After that, the citric acid
undergoes a series of complex
One of the pyruvates is first oxidized, or more simply put, coupled After that, a second NAD+ arrives, takes oxidation processes that result in the
with oxygen. After forming a link with an oxygen molecule, one of up a hydrogen atom, and transforms into left and right removal of carbons until
the three carbons in the chain breaks off to form CO2. All that's NADH. In order to be used later, our two oxaloacetic acid is achieved.
left is a molecule with two carbons known as acetyl coenzyme A, pyruvates produce two more molecules
or acetyl coA. of NADH.
Now, some energy is produced each time a carbon
leaves the citric acid, but it isn't ATP. Little enzymes
called NAD+ and FAD, which come from riboflavin and
niacin, are connected with B vitamins. When it comes
to holding high energy electrons until they may be
released later in the electron transport chain, these B
vitamins are excellent at doing so. They're so good at it,
in fact, that many of the high-energy-vitamin powders
the youngsters are taking these days contain them.
Like large batteries, NAD+s and FADs absorb hydrogen
and energetic electrons from each pyruvate, thereby
charging them. When hydrogen is added, they are
converted to NADH and FADH2, respectively.
Since each glucose molecule is broken down into two
pyruvates, each pyruvate produces three NADHs and
one FADH2 per cycle, so that each glucose molecule
can produce six NADHs and two FADH2s.
Electrons from
NADH, and
FADH2 are
used to
transport
hydrogen ions.
Electron
oxygen accepts Transport
Chain
the electrons as
well as
hydrogens from
the matrix
making water. (ETC):
Hydrogen ions ATP synthase
want to go to a spins like a
lower turbine, and
concentration
produces ATP.
area through
ATP synthase.
Sources:
• https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/adenosine-
triphosphate-atp-molecule-adenine-260nw-2400848137.jpg
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) | Definition, Structure, Function, &
Facts | Britannica
• 3.7 Nucleic Acids – Human Biology (tru.ca)
• ATP & Respiration: Crash Course Biology #7 (youtube.com)
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) | Definition, Structure, Function, &
Facts | Britannica
• The Electron Transport Chain Explained (Aerobic Respiration)
(youtube.com)
• Cellular respiration - Wikipedia
• Text book
• AI
