Adenosine triphosphate energy release

Ill these simultaneous reactions, die energy released when the complex molecule AB is broken down is immediately used to build a molecule of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from a molecule of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and an inorganic phosphate (P,). ATP is a high energy compound. It is called the energy currency of the body because once it is formed, it provides energy that the body can spend later to drive vital reactions in cells (Figure 1). 

Figure 29.1 An overview of catabolic pathways for the degradation of food and the production of biochemical energy. The ultimate products of food catabolism are C02 and H2O, with the energy released in the citric acid cycle used to drive the endergonic synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) plus phosphate ion, HOPO32-.

The energy released in catabolic pathways is used in the electron-transport chain to make molecules of adenosine triphosphate, ATP. ATP, the final result of food catabolism, couples to and drives many otherwise unfavorable reactions. 

The relative strengths of bonds are important for understanding the way that energy is used in bodies to power our brains and muscles. For instance, adenosine triphosphate, ATP (35), is found in ever)- living cell. The triphosphate part of this molecule is a chain of three phosphate groups. One of the phosphate groups is removed in a reaction with water. The P O bond in ATP requires only 276 kjmol-1 to break and the new P—O bond formed in H2P04 releases 350 kj-mol-1 when it forms. As a result, the conversion of ATP to adenosine diphosphate, ADP, in the reaction... 

Phosphate condensation reactions play an essential role in metabolism. Recall from Section 14.6 that the conversion of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) requires an input of free energy ADP -I-H3 PO4 ATP +H2O AG° — +30.6kJ As also described in that section, ATP serves as a major biochemical energy source, releasing energy in the reverse, hydrolysis, reaction. The ease of interchanging O—H and O—P bonds probably accounts for the fact that nature chose a phosphate condensation/hydrolysis reaction for energy storage and transport. 

The energy released is used to transfer protons across the photosynthetic membrane and ultimately this energy acts as a driving force for the catalysed production of high-energy adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate. 

In some cases, enzymes require the assistance of coenzymes (cofactors) to ensure the reactions proceed. Coenzymes include vitamins, metal ions, acids, and bases. They can act as transporters or electron acceptors or be involved in oxidation-reduction reactions. At the completion of the reaction, coenzymes are released, and they do not form part of the products. For some reactions that are energetically unfavorable, an energy source provided by the compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is needed to ensure the reactions proceed, as shown in the following reactions ... 

Note that equation 5.2 is irreversible and the product AMP will require two phosphorylation steps to reconstitute the high-energy adenosine triphosphate, ATP. Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate is an important molecule in the cytosol, where it releases calcium ions from storage. It forms part of a series of inositol-phosphate species that mediate calcium ion concentrations inside and outside the cell. 

The energy released is captured in the form of a molecule known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and is used to drive all our energy-requiring processes synthesis of complex molecules, movement, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and so on. 

Nucleosides are also encountered in the structures of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and coenzyme A (HSCoA). ATP provides nature with its currency unit for energy. Hydrolysis of ATP to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) liberates energy, which can be coupled to energy-requiring processes in biochemistry, and synthesis of ATP from ADP can be coupled to energy-releasing processes (see Box 7.25). 

In all organisms the free energy released in redox reactions is conserved in the energy-carrier molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is the universal carrier... 

An important role is played by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), involved in energy exchange relatively large amounts of free energy are released when ATP is hydrolyzed. A consequence of the loss of ATP in muscle postmortem is its conversion to hypoxanthine. Some 5 -mononucleotides, intermediates in the production of hypoxanthine and with the ribose component hy-droxylated at position 6, are flavor enhancers in muscle foods. Compounds of this kind are, for example, inosine 5 -monophosphate (IMP) and guanosine 5 -monophosphate (GMP). The ATP is first converted to ADP and then to AMP by a disproportionation reaction. The AMP is then de-aminated to IMP. The IMP can degrade to inosine and eventually to hypoxanthine. Hypoxanthine... 

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