1. ATP and Redox Reactions
Lesson 7

2. ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate
ATP is the prime energy carrying molecule
Composed of adenine (a nitrogenous base), ribose (a pentose) and three phosphate groups (P)
ATP is unstable
The end phosphate group wants to leave

3. Hydrolysis of ATP
The terminal P group is removed from ATP by hydrolysis
Catalyzed by ATPase
Forms adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and an inorganic phosphate group (Pi)
Releases energy
Is this exergonic
or endergonic?

4. Hydrolysis of ATP
The energy released from the ATP is usually immediately used by another reaction
This is called a “coupled” reaction
One way of using this energy is to add a phosphate group to another molecule
This makes the molecule more unstable and more likely to react
Called “phosphorylation”

5. Redox Reactions
Most of the ATP created by the cell is a result of redox reactions
One atom transfers an electron(s) to another atom
Oxidation: an atom loses one or more electrons
Aka the reducing agent
Reduction: an atom gains one or more electrons
Aka the oxidizing agent
“LEO the lion says GER” or “OIL RIG”

7. Homework
Define “coupled reaction” and draw a diagram that demonstrates a coupled reaction
What is the advantage of using the same energy source (ATP) in all cells?
How is the chemical energy in an ATP molecule transformed into energy that can be used to do work?
How can a detector that detects the formation of ATP be used to test meat for safety?