Name: how cells make and use atp
Uploaded: 2025-06-12T09:32:44.000Z
Duration: 1 min 23 s
Channel: JoVE

L’ATP, qui signifie adénosine triphosphate, sert de principal transporteur d’énergie dans les cellules. Il est composé d’une molécule d’adénosine liée à trois groupes phosphate. Ces liaisons phosphatés à haute énergie stockent l’énergie qui est libérée lors de l’hydrolyse, alimentant divers processus cellulaires, tels que la biosynthèse, le transport et le mouvement. La synthèse de l’ATP peut se produire via trois mécanismes. Dans la phosphorylation au niveau du substrat, un groupe phosphate d’un composé phosphorylé à haute énergie est directement transféré à l’ADP, générant de l’ATP. La phosphorylation oxydative transfère les électrons du NADH et du FADH2 à travers la chaîne de transport d’électrons, générant un gradient de protons qui entraîne la synthèse de l’ATP. Dans la photophosphorylation, l’énergie lumineuse entraîne les électrons à travers une série de porteurs d’électrons, créant un gradient électrochimique qui est utilisé pour la synthèse de l’ATP. Le couplage de la synthèse de l’ATP avec les réactions d’oxydoréduction est un aspect fondamental du métabolisme cellulaire. L’ATP est hydrolysé en continu pour fournir de l’énergie aux réactions anaboliques et régénéré lors des réactions cataboliques.

atp et production d’énergie

ATP and Energy Production

L&#8217;ad&#233;nosine triphosphate (ATP) est une mol&#233;cule essentielle qui agit comme principal vecteur d&#8217;&#233;nergie dans les cellules. Sur le plan structural, l&#8217;ATP est constitu&#233;e d&#8217;une mol&#233;cule d&#8217;ad&#233;nosine &#8212; form&#233;e d&#8217;ad&#233;nine et de ribose &#8212; li&#233;e &#224; trois groupes phosphates. Les liaisons riches en &#233;nergie entre ces groupes phosphates renferment une quantit&#233; significative d&#8217;&#233;nergie potentielle. Cette &#233;nergie est lib&#233;r&#233;e lors de l&#8217;hydrolyse, au cours de laquelle l&#8217;ATP est convertie en ad&#233;nosine diphosphate (ADP) ou en ad&#233;nosine monophosphate (AMP), permettant la r&#233;alisation de nombreux processus cellulaires essentiels, tels que la synth&#232;se de macromol&#233;cules, le transport intracellulaire et les mouvements m&#233;caniques.
M&#233;canismes de synth&#232;se de l&#8217;ATP
La synth&#232;se d&#8217;ATP s&#8217;effectue par trois m&#233;canismes principaux : la phosphorylation au niveau du substrat, la phosphorylation oxydative et la photophosphorylation.
Lors de la phosphorylation au niveau du substrat, l&#8217;ATP est produite par le transfert direct d&#8217;un groupe phosphate d&#8217;un interm&#233;diaire &#224; haute &#233;nergie vers une mol&#233;cule d&#8217;ADP. Ce processus se d&#233;roule pendant les r&#233;actions de la glycolyse et du cycle de l&#8217;acide citrique.
La phosphorylation oxydative est le mode de production d&#8217;ATP le plus abondant. Elle repose sur le transfert d&#8217;&#233;lectrons &#224; partir de coenzymes &#8212; NADH et FADH_2 &#8212; &#224; travers la cha&#238;ne de transport des &#233;lectrons. Le flux d&#8217;&#233;lectrons g&#233;n&#232;re un gradient de protons &#224; travers la membrane, gradient exploit&#233; par l&#8217;ATP synthase pour associer l&#8217;ADP au phosphate inorganique et synth&#233;tiser l&#8217;ATP.
La photophosphorylation, un processus propre aux organismes photosynth&#233;tiques, utilise l&#8217;&#233;nergie lumineuse pour exciter des &#233;lectrons qui transitent par une s&#233;rie de transporteurs &#233;lectroniques au sein de la membrane thylako&#239;de des chloroplastes. Le gradient de protons r&#233;sultant alimente la production d&#8217;ATP, de mani&#232;re analogue &#224; la phosphorylation oxydative.
ATP comme r&#233;gulateur &#233;nerg&#233;tique
L&#8217;ATP joue un r&#244;le central dans la gestion de l&#8217;&#233;nergie cellulaire en couplant les r&#233;actions cataboliques et anaboliques. Au cours des processus cataboliques, comme la respiration cellulaire, l&#8217;ATP est r&#233;g&#233;n&#233;r&#233;e &#224; partir de l&#8217;ADP et du phosphate. Elle est ensuite hydrolys&#233;e au cours des r&#233;actions anaboliques, fournissant l&#8217;&#233;nergie n&#233;cessaire &#224; la synth&#232;se des biomol&#233;cules. Ce cycle continu d&#8217;hydrolyse et de r&#233;g&#233;n&#233;ration de l&#8217;ATP permet aux cellules de g&#233;rer efficacement leurs besoins &#233;nerg&#233;tiques, de maintenir l&#8217;hom&#233;ostasie et de soutenir les fonctions vitales.

ATP et production d’énergie

L&#8217;ad&#233;nosine triphosphate (ATP) est une mol&#233;cule essentielle qui agit comme principal vecteur d&#8217;&#233;nergie dans les cellules. Sur ...

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Microbial Metabolism

Métabolisme microbien

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TERMES ET CONCEPTS CLÉS

how cells make and use atp

ATP is the main energy carrier in cells. It is made of adenosine, which includes adenine and ribose, plus three phosphate groups. The bonds between the phosphate groups hold a large amount of potential energy. When ATP is hydrolyzed, it becomes ADP or AMP and releases energy for cell work.

Cells use that energy for many essential tasks. It supports macromolecule synthesis, intracellular transport, and mechanical movement. ATP also acts as an energy manager by linking catabolic and anabolic reactions. During catabolic processes such as cellular respiration, ATP is regenerated from ADP and phosphate. During anabolic reactions, ATP hydrolysis provides the energy needed to build biomolecules.

Cells produce ATP in three main ways: substrate-level phosphorylation, oxidative phosphorylation, and photophosphorylation. In substrate-level phosphorylation, a phosphate group moves directly from a high-energy intermediate to ADP. This happens during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. Oxidative phosphorylation makes the most ATP. It uses electrons from NADH and FADH2 that pass through the electron transport chain. Their movement creates a proton gradient across a membrane, and ATP synthase uses that gradient to join ADP with inorganic phosphate and form ATP.

Photophosphorylation occurs in photosynthetic organisms. It uses light energy to excite electrons, which move through electron carriers in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. The electron flow creates a proton gradient, and that gradient drives ATP production. This process works in a similar way to oxidative phosphorylation. Together, ATP hydrolysis and ATP regeneration help cells meet energy needs and maintain homeostasis.

How Cells Make and Use ATP

microbial nutrition

Microbial Energy and Carbon Sources

Microbial energy and carbon sources determine how microorganisms live and grow. These metabolic strategies help microbes survive in many habitats and keep energy moving through ecosystems. They also support nutrient cycling in nature. Microbes are grouped by where they get energy, electrons, and carbon. Phototrophs use light, while chemotrophs use chemical compounds for energy. Lithotrophs take electrons from reduced inorganic substances, and organotrophs take them from organic compounds.

atp and energy production

ATP is the main energy carrier in cells. It is made of adenosine, which includes adenine and ribose, plus three phosphate groups. The bonds between the phosphate groups hold a large amount of potential energy. When ATP is hydrolyzed, it becomes ADP or AMP and releases energy for cell work. Cells use that energy for many essential tasks. It supports macromolecule synthesis, intracellular transport, and mechanical movement. ATP also acts as an energy manager by linking catabolic and anabolic...

redox reactions

Electron Carriers in Redox Metabolism

Redox reactions move electrons through metabolic pathways in cells. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, and reduction is the gain of electrons. These two steps happen together, which keeps electron flow moving through metabolism. A clear example appears in bacterial metabolism. Glucose is oxidized to carbon dioxide, while oxygen is reduced to water. This shows how one molecule loses electrons as another gains them. Cells use special electron carriers to make these transfers happen.

introduction to metabolism

Metabolism: Energy Use and Biomolecule Synthesis

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that keep living cells working. It includes reactions that break down biomolecules and reactions that build them up. These two sides of metabolism work together to support energy balance and cell function. Catabolic pathways break large molecules into smaller parts. Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins can be broken down into monosaccharides, fatty acids, and amino acids. These reactions release energy, and cells store much of that energy as ATP, or...

carbohydrate catabolism

Glucose Breakdown and ATP Production

Glucose breakdown is a key part of cell metabolism that lets cells make ATP, the usable form of energy. The process follows two main paths: cellular respiration and fermentation. Both start with glycolysis, which does not require oxygen. Glycolysis splits one glucose molecule into two molecules of pyruvic acid. It also produces a net gain of two ATP molecules and two NADH molecules. This step sets up the cell to continue with respiration or switch to fermentation, depending on whether oxygen...

glycolysis

Glycolysis and Pyruvate Fate

Glycolysis is a central pathway in glucose catabolism and a major way cells make energy. It is also called the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. This process takes place in the cytoplasm and can work with or without oxygen, which makes it useful in many organisms and conditions. Glycolysis has ten steps and turns one glucose molecule into two pyruvate molecules. It has two phases. In the preparatory phase, the cell uses two ATP to add phosphate groups to glucose and split it into two three-carbon...

other glycolytic pathways

Pentose Phosphate Pathway and Entner-Doudoroff

The pentose phosphate pathway works alongside glycolysis in cells that need both sugar breakdown and building blocks for growth. It handles pentoses, which are five-carbon sugars, and also uses glucose as a starting point. The pathway has two parts, an oxidative phase and a non-oxidative phase. It does not make ATP directly, but its products can feed back into glycolysis when the cell needs them. The oxidative phase mainly makes NADPH, a reduced electron carrier. In this phase,...

cellular respiration

Cellular Respiration: ATP Production Pathways

Cellular respiration is the process cells use to turn glucose into ATP, the main energy molecule in the cell. It depends on oxidation and the transfer of electrons to a separate electron acceptor. This sequence of reactions supports energy production in both aerobic and anaerobic settings. Glycolysis is the first step. It takes place in the cytoplasm of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. One glucose molecule is broken into two pyruvate molecules, and the cell gains a net 2 ATP and 2 NADH.

electron transport chain components

Electron Transport Chain and ATP Production

The electron transport chain helps cells make ATP by moving electrons through membrane protein complexes. In eukaryotic cells, it sits in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In prokaryotic cells, it is found in the plasma membrane and can differ in the number and type of complexes, depending on the organism and its environment. The chain uses several electron carriers to pass electrons along in redox reactions, which are reactions that involve oxidation and reduction. These carriers include...

chemiosmosis and atp synthesis

Electron Transport Chain Powers ATP Output

The electron transport chain powers ATP production during cellular respiration. It sits in the inner mitochondrial membrane and moves high-energy electrons from NADH and FADH2 to molecular oxygen, the final electron acceptor. As electrons move through the chain, protons are pushed across the membrane to build the gradient needed for ATP synthesis. Electrons from NADH enter the chain at Complex I, also called NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase. In prokaryotes, this step helps pump protons from the...

respiration pathways

TCA Cycle and Energy Pathways

Cellular respiration uses the TCA cycle, also called the Krebs cycle, to help cells make usable energy from organic molecules. This pathway is a central part of aerobic respiration and also supports biosynthesis. It links the breakdown of food molecules to the cell's energy needs. Pyruvate from glycolysis enters this process first. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex converts pyruvate into acetyl-CoA through oxidative decarboxylation. This step produces one NADH and one carbon dioxide molecule.

microbial fermentation

Fermentation Products in Microbes

Fermentation is an anaerobic process that lets microbes make energy from sugar without oxygen or an electron transport chain. It is important in both biology and industry. The process is grouped by the products it makes. Pyruvate and its derivatives act as key electron acceptors in fermentative pathways. This step helps oxidize NADH back to NAD+, which is needed for glycolysis to keep running. Without NAD+ regeneration, glycolysis would stop and the cell would lose its main source of ATP under...

metabolism of chemolithotrophs

How Chemolithotrophs Make ATP

Chemolithotrophs make ATP by using inorganic chemicals as an energy source. They oxidize molecules such as hydrogen gas, ammonia, reduced sulfur compounds, and ferrous iron. Instead of relying on organic carbon like heterotrophs, they move electrons from these inorganic donors into the electron transport chain, or ETC. That electron flow builds a proton motive force, or PMF. The PMF drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. Because inorganic electron donors usually release less...

amino acid catabolism

Microbes Use Proteins for Energy

Microbes can use proteins as a carbon and energy source, especially when polysaccharides or lipids are scarce. But proteins are too large to pass through the plasma membrane on their own. To solve this, microbes secrete extracellular proteases and peptidases that break proteins into peptides. The peptides are then transported into the cell, where intracellular proteases cut them into free amino acids. Once amino acids are available, microbes break them down in two main ways: deamination and...

lipid catabolism

How Microbes Break Down Fats for Energy

Microbes break down triglycerides and fatty acids to make energy. Triglycerides are important long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms. Lipases hydrolyze, or split with water, triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each product then enters a different metabolic route that helps the cell make ATP, the main energy currency. Glycerol metabolism begins after glycerol is released from triglyceride hydrolysis. Glycerol kinase adds a phosphate group to form glycerol-3-phosphate.

oxygenic photosynthesis

How Plants Make Oxygen and ATP

Oxygenic photosynthesis is the process plants, algae, and cyanobacteria use to capture light energy and turn it into chemical energy. It uses water as the source of electrons and releases molecular oxygen, or O2. The process also produces ATP and NADPH, which cells need for later energy use and carbon fixation. The main reactions happen in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments absorb light. In cyanobacteria, these membranes come from folds in the plasma membrane. Two photosystems...

anoxygenic photosynthesis

Bacterial Light Capture Without Oxygen

Anoxygenic photosynthesis is a bacterial way to capture light energy without making oxygen. It supports carbon fixation, but it does not use water as the electron donor. Instead, these phototrophs use other electron donors such as hydrogen sulfide, elemental sulfur, thiosulfate, or organic compounds. This process is carried out by several groups of bacteria, including purple bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, heliobacteria, and other anoxygenic phototrophs. These organisms have evolved a...

biosynthesis in bacteria

How Bacteria Build Key Macromolecules

Bacteria build essential macromolecules through tightly controlled biosynthetic pathways. These anabolic reactions make proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. The products support growth, cell division, and normal cell function. Bacterial biosynthesis starts with precursor metabolites from glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the Krebs cycle. Important precursors include pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate. Cells use these compounds to make the monomers that...

carbon-dioxide fixation

Microbial Carbon Fixation Pathways

Microbial carbon fixation pathways let prokaryotes turn carbon dioxide into organic molecules. This process supports biosynthesis, helps sustain ecosystems, and plays a role in the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial uses in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms depend on this process to use CO2 as a carbon source in many environments. The Calvin cycle is the most common carbon fixation pathway. Cyanobacteria and other autotrophic prokaryotes use it, and it...

biosynthesis of polysaccharides

Activated Sugars for Polysaccharide Synthesis

Activated sugars drive polysaccharide synthesis in cells. Glycogen and starch are built from nucleoside diphosphate sugars, mainly uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) and adenosine diphosphate glucose (ADPG). These sugar donors act as high-energy intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis. UDPG supports glycogen synthesis in animals and many bacteria. It forms when glucose-1-phosphate reacts with uridine triphosphate (UTP). UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase catalyzes this reaction.

inorganic nitrogen assimilation

Nitrogen Uptake by Microbes

Nitrogen uptake by microbes is essential for making proteins, nucleic acids, and other cell parts. Many bacteria and archaea take in nitrogen as nitrate or ammonia. They then convert it into forms that can be built into biomolecules. When nitrate enters a cell, it goes through assimilatory nitrate reduction. This is a two-step process. First, nitrate reductase changes nitrate to nitrite using NADH or FAD as an electron donor, depending on environmental and cellular conditions. Then nitrite...

sulfur assimilation

Sulfur Uptake and Cysteine Synthesis

Sulfur uptake and cysteine synthesis are key parts of microbial metabolism. Sulfur is needed to build important biomolecules, including the amino acids cysteine and methionine, as well as cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms usually take in sulfur from the environment as sulfate, but sulfate must be changed before cells can use it. Because sulfate is highly oxidized, it must go through assimilatory sulfate reduction to become biologically useful. Some microorganisms can also...

amino acid biosynthetic pathways

Amino Acid Building from Cell Metabolites

Amino acid biosynthesis lets cells build amino acids from common metabolic intermediates. These amino acids support cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. The main source molecules come from glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Key precursors include alpha-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate. They supply the carbon skeletons needed to form amino acids. Nitrogen must also be added...

biosynthesis of nucleic acids

Nucleotide Building Blocks for DNA and RNA

Nucleotide biosynthesis makes the building blocks needed for DNA and RNA. Cells use this pathway to make purine and pyrimidine nucleotides and keep their supply balanced. That balance helps protect genetic integrity and supports normal cell function. Purine nucleotide synthesis starts with ribose-5-phosphate, a sugar made in the pentose phosphate pathway. PRPP synthetase adds phosphate groups to form phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate, or PRPP, which is the activated starting point for the pathway.

biosynthesis of lipids

How Membrane Lipids Vary Across Life

Membrane lipids vary across Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, and these differences help cells survive in different environments. The three domains of life make lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways. Those pathways create membranes with different stability, permeability, and flexibility. Bacteria and eukaryotes both build fatty acid-based lipids from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA. The pathway includes condensation, reduction, and dehydration steps. Bacteria use a type II fatty acid...

formation of lipopolysaccharides

Lipopolysaccharides and Gram-Negative Defense

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are important parts of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. They help stabilize the membrane and help protect bacteria from host immune responses. LPS has three main parts: lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. LPS biosynthesis and assembly depend on a coordinated set of enzymes and transport steps. The molecule is also known as an endotoxin. It can activate Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the host and trigger strong immune responses. In severe...

key terms and concepts

Learn how cells make and use ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation, oxidative phosphorylation, and photophosphorylation to power cell processes.

How Cells Make and Use ATP | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Microbiology provides an engaging introduction to the microbial world and its influence on health, industry, and the environment. This comprehensive collection covers key concepts such as microbial structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. It introduces essential laboratory techniques and microscopy methods through visually engaging animations. Corresponding scientist-in-action videos bridge classroom concepts with real-world research and applications.

microbiology

How Cells Make and Use ATP

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