Explore ATP as a small, soluble nucleotide and universal energy currency, and how hydrolysis connects respiration to cellular work in IB Biology HL C1.2.1.
All cells require a supply of energy and can transform the energy that they obtain in different ways.
Explain the properties of ATP that make it useful for distributing energy within cells.
a. used as a source/(temporary) store of energy / is the energy currency of the cell;
b. releases energy when converted to ADP/when a phosphate is removed;
c. amount of energy released can be used/sufficient for (many metabolic) tasks;
d. active transport/another valid example;
e. ATP to ADP conversion is reversible / ATP can be regenerated from ADP;
f. can be produced in different ways/using energy from different sources/by aerobic or anaerobic respiration;
g. stable within cell so does not release energy prematurely/before needed;
h. small molecule/soluble so can move easily/quickly (through the cell);
i. cannot diffuse through membranes so is not lost from cell/to the environment;
h. The idea of ATP being small/soluble must be there along with its moveability.