Table of Contents
Definition:
ATP is known as Adenosine TriPhosphate energy-carrying molecules found in all living organisms’ cells. It captures the chemical energy from the breakdown of molecules and releases it as fuel to other processes. When energy is needed in the cell it converts a storage molecule into ATP. It is also known as energy currency to cells. It provides energy for many processes in living cells. When ATP is consumed it either converts into adenosine diphosphate or monophosphate in the living cell. It is also used as a precursor to DNA and RNA and also acts as a coenzyme. If ATP is not formed or manufactured many processes will be stopped which leads to the death of cells.so, it is important to manufacture ATP in living cells of eukaryotic living organisms and in some bacteria.
Overview:
ATP is an adenosine triphosphate chain of three phosphate groups linked with ribose. It delivers energy within the cells where energy consumption is going on. It is known as the energy currency of the cell because of its importance. It is the end product of phosphorylation, cellular respiration, and the fermentation process. Aside from energy sources, it is also used as signal transduction which is used in cell communication and is incorporated into DNA during DNA synthesis.
ATP is made up of phosphate and adenosine, adenosine is the combination of adenine and ribose sugar. It is water-soluble and having two phophoanhydribe bonuses connecting with three phosphate groups makes ATP have a high energy content. At extreme pH, it converted into ADP.
Electron transport chain and ATP formation are coupled, it is the driving force of the ATP synthesis.
The function of energy source:
ATP’s main function is to carry energy which is used in all cellular activities.
- Signal transduction:- ATP also performs signal transduction in cell communication. Phosphorylate molecule enzyme kinases use ATP as a source of a phosphate group. Kinases have the main role in cell communication.
- DNA synthesis:- adenine is a part of adenosine which is a part of ATP and inserted directly into RNA. Adenine also found in DNA incorporation is similar except in ATP is converted into form deoxyadenosine triphosphate which is dATP before becoming a part of DNA strands.
Methods for producing ATP:
ATP is produced by different methods, in which photophosphorylation is a common method in plants for ATP production. It is also formed by the cellular respiration process in mitochondria.
Aerobic respiration produces ATP molecules with carbon dioxide and water from glucose and oxygen. ATP is also produced by anaerobic respiration which uses chemicals except for oxygen and is mainly done in anaerobic bacteria.
There is also another process for producing fermentation in the absence of oxygen and also different from anaerobic respiration. In fermentation the electron transport chain is absent. Yeast and bacteria are used in this process to generate ATP.
ATP can be produced in a number of ways. The popular pathways are glycolysis, citric acid cycle, beta-oxidation. Glycolysis and the citric acid cycle are combinedly known as cellular respiration which produces 30 equivalent of ATP from each molecule of glucose.
In glycolysis nets of two ATPs are formed and later it is associated with the Krebs cycle which produces additional ATP.
After completion of glycolysis, citric acid cycle, electron transport chain, and oxidative phosphorylation we will get 30-38 ATP molecules produced for one molecule of glucose.
- ADP- adenosine diphosphate which is also known as adenosine pyrophosphate. When ATP loses a phosphate group it forms ADP and releases energy.
- AMP- adenosine monophosphate also called as 5 adenylic acids have a single phosphate group. It is mainly found in RNA. It is also formed at the time of RNA breakdown.
- cAMP- cyclic adenosine monophosphate is derived from ATP and it is also used in signal transduction and activating kinases.
Importance of the chapter in NEET:
This is an important chapter that needs to be paid a lot of attention to. This chapter explains about the energy currency of the cell and also the cycle. These are the main areas from which you can expect many questions. Altogether, you can accept five to ten bits from this chapter. So do not skip this chapter.
Also read: Mass Flow Hypothesis
FAQs
What is ATP?
ATP is an adenosine triphosphate chain of three phosphate groups linked with ribose. It delivers energy within the cells where energy consumption is going on. It is known as the energy currency of the cell because of its importance. It is the end product of phosphorylation, cellular respiration, and the fermentation process. Aside from energy sources, it is also used as signal transduction which is used in cell communication and is incorporated into DNA during DNA synthesis.
Q. What is ADP, AMP?
Ans:
ADP- adenosine diphosphate which is also known as adenosine pyrophosphate. When ATP loses a phosphate group it forms ADP and releases energy.
AMP- adenosine monophosphate also called 5 adenylic acids has a single phosphate group. It is mainly found in RNA. It is also formed at the time of RNA breakdown.
cAMP- cyclic adenosine monophosphate is derived from ATP and it is also used in signal transduction and activating kinases.
Q. What are the functions of ATP?
Ans: ATP’s main function is to carry energy which is used in all cellular activities.
- Signal transduction:- ATP also performs signal transduction in cell communication. Phosphorylate molecule enzyme kinases use ATP as a source of a phosphate group. Kinases have the main role in cell communication.
- DNA synthesis:- Adenine is a part of adenosine which is a part of ATP and inserted directly into RNA. Adenine also found in DNA incorporation is similar except in ATP is converted into form deoxyadenosine triphosphate which is dATP before becoming a part of DNA strands.
