Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Coupled Reactions

Coupled Reactions

Cellular processes such as building and breaking down complex molecules occur through stepwise chemical reactions. Some of these chemical reactions are spontaneous and release energy, whereas others require energy to proceed. Cells often couple the energy-releasing reaction with the energy-requiring one to carry out important cell functions.
Energy in adenosine triphosphate or ATP molecules is easily accessible to do work. ATP powers the majority of energy-requiring cellular reactions. Cells...

The Citric Acid Cycle

The Citric Acid Cycle

The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle or TCA cycle, consists of several energy-generating reactions that yield one ATP molecule, three NADH molecules, one FADH2 molecule, and two CO2 molecules.

ATP Energy Storage and Release

ATP Energy Storage and Release

ATP is a highly unstable molecule. Unless quickly used to perform work, ATP spontaneously dissociates into ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi), and the free energy released during this process is lost as heat. The energy released by ATP hydrolysis is used to perform work inside the cell and depends on a strategy called energy coupling. Cells couple the exergonic reaction of ATP hydrolysis with endergonic reactions, allowing them to proceed.
One example of energy coupling using ATP involves a...

The Supercomplexes in the Crista Membrane

The Supercomplexes in the Crista Membrane

The mitochondrial cristae membrane is the primary site for the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) process of energy conversion mediated through respiratory complexes I to V. These complexes have been widely studied for decades, and it has been proven that they form supramolecular structures called respiratory supercomplexes (SC). These higher-order complexes may be crucial in maintaining the biochemical structure and improving the physiological activity of the individual complexes while...

ATP Synthase: Mechanism

ATP Synthase: Mechanism

In animals, the mitochondrial F1F0 ATP synthase is the key protein that synthesizes ATP molecules through a complex catalytic mechanism. While the nuclear genome encodes the majority of ATP synthase subunits, the mitochondrial genome encodes some of the enzyme's most critical components. The formation of this multi-subunit enzyme is a complex multi-step process regulated at the level of transcription, translation, and assembly. Defects in one or more of these steps can result in decreased ATP...

Introduction to Enzyme Kinetics

Introduction to Enzyme Kinetics

Enzyme kinetics studies the rates of biochemical reactions. Scientists monitor the reaction rates for a particular enzymatic reaction at various substrate concentrations. Additional trials with inhibitors or other molecules that affect the reaction rate may also be performed.
The experimenter can then plot the initial reaction rate or velocity (Vo) of a given trial against the substrate concentration ([S]) to obtain a graph of the reaction properties. For many enzymatic reactions involving a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Obituary: in memory of the scientific career of Professor Roger C Harris.

Amino acids·2025

Same author

Skeletal muscle histidine-containing dipeptide contents are increased in freshwater turtles (C. picta bellii) with cold-acclimation.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2021

Same author

Chronic pantothenic acid supplementation does not affect muscle coenzyme A content or cycling performance.

Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme·2020

Same author

Comparison of sustained-release and rapid-release β-alanine formulations on changes in skeletal muscle carnosine and histidine content and isometric performance following a muscle-damaging protocol.

Amino acids·2018

Same author

Comparison of Two β-Alanine Dosing Protocols on Muscle Carnosine Elevations.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition·2017

Same author

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP

Published on: May 26, 2017

The creatine kinase reaction: a simple reaction with functional complexity.

Kent Sahlin¹, Roger C Harris

¹Åstrand Laboratory, GIH, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Kent.sahlin@gih.se

|March 12, 2011

Summary

Phosphocreatine (PCr) primarily maintains muscle function by controlling ADP levels, not just ATP. The creatine kinase (CK) reaction limits ADP spikes during muscle contraction, crucial for sustained energy.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes

Published on: January 7, 2013

Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle

Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle

Published on: January 19, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP

Published on: May 26, 2017

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes

Published on: January 7, 2013

Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle

Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle

Published on: January 19, 2017

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Muscle Physiology
Cellular Metabolism

Background:

The traditional view positions phosphocreatine (PCr) as a high-energy phosphate reservoir defending cellular ATP levels.
However, the creatine kinase (CK) reaction's primary role may be to mitigate increases in ADP, preventing inhibition of ATPase systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of the creatine kinase (CK) reaction in maintaining ADP homeostasis during muscle contraction.
To explore the relationship between PCr, ADP, and muscle contractility.

Main Methods:

The study discusses the implications of ADP spikes during muscle contraction and the role of CK in mitigating them.
It references experimental findings linking ADP-activated processes (glycolysis, AMP deamination) to exercise but not anoxia.

Main Results:

A primary role for CK in ADP homeostasis explains the inverse relationship between PCr and muscle contractility.
CK, localized near ATP utilization sites, reduces ADP spike amplitude and duration via PCr-mediated phosphotransfer.
Reduced PCr impairs CK's buffering efficiency, making ADP changes more pronounced.

Conclusions:

The creatine kinase reaction is crucial for maintaining ADP homeostasis, thereby supporting muscle contractility.
ADP spikes during muscle contraction are significant, and their mitigation by CK is vital.
Current methods for calculating free ADP from the CK reaction in contracting muscle may be unreliable due to ADP spikes.