Nucleic Acids: ATP
- ATP- Adenosine Triphosphate
- Provides most of the energy to cells and body: chemical (reactions), transport (ions), mechanical (muscle contractions)
- Is a nucleotide similar to that of RNA as both are comprised of ribose sugar, a nitrogen base (adenine) BUT unlike RNA which only has 1 Phosphate group like the name suggests ATP has 3 Phosphate Groups:
- Due to this structural difference ATP is a high energy molecule because its last 2 P groups are easily broken during Hydrolysis. Enzymes break down an ATP molecule when energy is needed and this breakdown provides it with ENERGY. Many processes including Dehydration Synthesis can occur with the attained energy.
- After an ATP molecule is manipulated for its energy it can be reused after DS when the Phosphate groups reattach (this is in a sense why ATP is sort of the currency $$$ of energy in our body)
No comments:
Post a Comment