Molecules energy storage

Biologically, carbohydrates are most important as energy sources. This is especially true for monosaccharides, disaccharides, and starches. Starches also function as energy storage molecules in plants. Cellulose is an essential component of plant cell walls. 

These compounds vary, from the natural product rotenone (from Derris or Lonchocarpus root, used to control vegetable and fruit insects) to the synthetics sulfluramid and hydramethylnon (used to control mites and cockroaches). Interestingly, the highest acute toxicity to mammals is caused by the natural product rotenone. These compounds affect the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy storage molecule of the cell that is produced by mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. The disruption of energy metabolism and the subsequent loss of ATP result in a slowly developing toxicity, and the effects of all these compounds include inactivity, paralysis, and death. 

The amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars can all be polymerized to give the macromolecules characteristic of life proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, respectively. Briefly, proteins comprise the machinery and much of the structure of life nucleic acids provide the information required to specify the proteins, and polysaccharides pi-vide structural fibers and energy storage molecules. 

ATP (p. 792) Adenosine triphosphate—a nucleotide that functions as the universal energy-storage molecule in living cells. 

When plant-eating animals, such as caterpillars, consume the oak leaves, they can break down the energy-storage molecules in those leaves to release energy for their own life functions. 

ATP adenosine triphosphate, the energy storage molecule in cells. (Chap. 19, p. 696)... 

Aerobic metabolism, the mechanism by which the chemical bond energy of food molecules is captured and used to drive the oxygen-dependent synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell s energy storage molecule, takes place within mitochondria. 

Why are triglycerides more efficient energy-storage molecules than glycogen ... 

Phosphorus is required not only as a component of hydroxyapatite in bone, but also as a component of nucleic acids and many other biologically important molecules. Without phosphorus we would have no energy-storage molecules, such as ATP and creatine phosphate, for the energy derived from glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. The RDA for phosphorus is the same as that for calcium. Because it is abundant in most foods, a deficiency of phosphorus in the presence of an otherwise adequate diet is virtually impossible. 

ATP Catabolism and anabolism are linked by common building blocks that catabolic reactions produce and anabolic reactions use. A common form of potential chemical energy also links the two processes, as shown in Figure 23.25. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a nucleotide that functions as the universal energy-storage molecule in living cells. 

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