How does ATP work in an effective manner? by Charlie

This week in Advanced Biology we were learning about ATP which means  adenosine Triphosphate.  ATP is one of the main sources of energy within a cell.  They are made up of adenine, a ribose sugar, and 3 phosphate groups. ATP is reused again and again by the body.  If it wasn’t reused the amount needed for a single day would add around 500 more pounds to the human body. 

ADP is very similar the only thing is that it has 2 phosphate groups instead of 3.  For an ATP to change to an ADP it has to go through hydrolysis which is when water is introduced and it breaks off the 3rd phosphate and releases energy.  The energy is ‘stored’ between the phosphate groups this is called potential energy.  Like I said the ATP is recycled this is done through Phosphorylation.  Which is when another Phosphate group is attached making it an ATP again.     

The energy created through the hydrolysis is used for active transport across the cell membrane, muscle movement, and protein synthesis.  The energy from ATP is the base of energy in the body and is used for a variety of different things.