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Related Concept Videos

ATP Energy Storage and Release01:31

ATP Energy Storage and Release

11.6K
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...
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ATP and Energy Production01:23

ATP and Energy Production

521
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a critical molecule that functions as the main energy carrier in cells. Structurally, ATP consists of an adenosine molecule—comprising adenine and ribose—bonded to three phosphate groups. The high-energy bonds between these phosphate groups store significant amounts of potential energy. This energy is released during hydrolysis, wherein ATP is converted to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or adenosine monophosphate (AMP), driving a variety of essential...
521
Coupled Reactions01:17

Coupled Reactions

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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....
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Hydrolysis of ATP01:08

Hydrolysis of ATP

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The bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can be broken through the addition of water, releasing one or two phosphate groups in an exergonic process called hydrolysis. This reaction liberates the energy in the bonds for use in the cell—for instance, to synthesize proteins from amino acids.
If one phosphate group is removed, a molecule of ADP—adenosine diphosphate—remains, along with inorganic phosphate. ADP can be further hydrolyzed to AMP—adenosine...
77.5K
Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂01:29

Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂

13.3K
The energy released from the breakdown of the chemical bonds within nutrients can be stored either through the reduction of electron carriers or in the bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In living systems, a small class of compounds functions as mobile electron carriers, molecules that bind to and shuttle high-energy electrons between compounds in pathways. The principal electron carriers that will be considered originate from the B vitamin group and are derivatives of nucleotides; they are...
13.3K
The ADP/ATP Carrier Protein01:42

The ADP/ATP Carrier Protein

3.5K
ADP/ATP carrier or AAC protein is the most abundant carrier protein in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It transports large quantities of ADP and ATP, equivalent to the average human body weight, every day. Among other transporters, ACC protein is one of the best-studied members of the mitochondrial carrier protein family. The ADP/ATP carrier protein comprises two transmembrane helices connected to a loop and a single alpha-helix on the matrix side. It switches between two conformational...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2025

High-Resolution Respirometry to Assess Bioenergetics in Cells and Tissues Using Chamber- and Plate-Based Respirometers
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The Complex Roles of Adenosine Triphosphate in Bioenergetics.

Juan C Fontecilla-Camps1

  • 1Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Metalloproteins Unit, 38044, Grenoble, France.

Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology
|March 30, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is more than just cellular energy currency. Its binding and release by proteins, not bond breaking, drives biological processes like signaling and transport.

Keywords:
ABS transportershydrolysisionic pumpsphosphorylation“high energy” bonds

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Imaging of Intracellular ATP in Organotypic Tissue Slices of the Mouse Brain using the FRET-based Sensor ATeam1.03YEMK
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Last Updated: Sep 28, 2025

High-Resolution Respirometry to Assess Bioenergetics in Cells and Tissues Using Chamber- and Plate-Based Respirometers
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High-resolution Respirometry to Assess Mitochondrial Function in Permeabilized and Intact Cells
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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Energetics

Background:

  • Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is commonly referred to as the
  • However, the concept of
  • This article re-evaluates the established role of ATP in biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the conventional definition of ATP as solely an
  • To explore the multifaceted roles of ATP beyond simple energy provision.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of existing biochemical and biophysical literature on ATP hydrolysis and protein interactions.
  • Examination of ATP's role in protein phosphorylation, signaling pathways, active transport, and condensation reactions.
  • Discussion of conformational changes in proteins induced by ATP binding and subsequent product release.

Main Results:

  • ATP's phosphoanhydride bonds are not the primary source of energy; bond breaking does not release energy.
  • ATP hydrolysis in motor and transport proteins is not 'strongly exergonic'.
  • Protein conformational changes upon ATP binding and release are critical for function.

Conclusions:

  • The significance of ATP lies in its interaction with proteins, inducing conformational changes essential for biological work.
  • ATP's phosphoryl group plays diverse roles, including signaling, active transport, and acting as a dehydrating agent in condensation reactions.
  • ATP's functions extend beyond energy currency, involving intricate molecular mechanisms and protein regulation.