Explain why ATP is of biological importance

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  • Created by: phoebs_k
  • Created on: 09-01-16 09:33

Explain why ATP is of biological importance

  • Universal energy molecule (short-term storage of energy)
  • Released by hydrolysis of glucose in cellular respiration
  • Energy released by breaking covalent bond between phosphate groups, releasing vast amounts of energy per phosphate group, triggering the molecule to release energy for use in various processes within organisms
  • Plants: photosynthetic phosphorylation occurs during photosynthesis in chlorophyll-containing cells, reconverting AMP & ADP to ATP
  • Aerobic cells: oxidative phosphorylation occurs during cellular respiration, enabling energy to be released from ATP molecules for variety of cellular processes
  • Provides energy required to build macromolecules from component units (DNA replication)
  • Energy for cellular movement (muscular contraction, ciliary action & spindle action) - growth in eukaryotic cells
  • Energy for active transport & secretion of products
  • Makes chemicals more reactive, enabling them to react more readily (phosphorylation of glucose at 1st stage of respiration) by adding extra phosphate group (more energy released in intiation of break-down of molecule = more reactive)
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