Name: atp powers cellular work
Uploaded: 2025-05-22T09:05:36.000Z
Duration: 1 min 17 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Louisiana Student Standards for Science

High School

Chemistry

Matter And Its Interactions

HS-PS1-4

Coupled Reactions

Energy coupling occurs when a highly exergonic reaction powers an endergonic reaction. The combined reaction is called a coupled reaction.
Cells use coupled reactions to perform different processes, including biosynthesis, active transport of ions, and mechanical work. Hydrolysis of ATP is a frequently coupled exergonic reaction for powering biological processes.
For example, the endergonic reaction between glutamate and ammonia to form glutamine is coupled with the exergonic hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate.
The net free energy change for the coupled reaction is the sum of the individual free energy changes. Because of the large negative &#916;G for the ATP hydrolysis, the total standard free energy change is negative 16.3 kJ/mol, and the reaction can proceed.
Coupled biosynthesis reactions often share a common unstable intermediate. In the biosynthesis of glutamine, the transfer of phosphate from ATP to glutamate forms the intermediate glutamyl phosphate, which then reacts with ammonia to form glutamine.

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.&#160;
Energy in adenosine triphosphate or ATP molecules is easily accessible to do work. ATP powers the majority of energy-requiring cellular reactions. Cells couple the ATP hydrolysis&#39;&#160;with endergonic reactions allowing them to proceed. One example of energy coupling using ATP involves a transmembrane ion pump that is extremely important for cellular function. This sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ pump) drives sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell. A large percentage of a cell&#39;s ATP powers this pump, because cellular processes bring considerable sodium into the cell and potassium out of it. The pump constantly works to stabilize cellular concentrations of sodium and potassium.
Often during cellular metabolic reactions, such as nutrient synthesis and breakdown, certain molecules must alter slightly in their conformation to become substrates for the next step in the reaction series. One example is during the very first steps of cellular respiration, when a sugar glucose molecule breaks down in glycolysis. In the first step, ATP is required to phosphorylate glucose, creating a high-energy but unstable intermediate. This phosphorylation reaction powers a conformational change that allows the phosphorylated glucose molecule to convert to the phosphorylated sugar fructose. Fructose is a necessary intermediate for glycolysis to move forward. Here, ATP hydrolysis&#39;&#160;exergonic reaction couples with the endergonic reaction of converting glucose into a phosphorylated intermediate in the pathway. Once again, the energy released by breaking a phosphate bond within ATP was used for phosphorylyzing another molecule, creating an unstable intermediate and powering an important conformational change.
This text is adapted from Openstax, Biology 2e, <a href="https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/6-1-energy-and-metabolism-3-the-laws-of-thermodynamics">Section 6.1: </a><a href="https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/6-1-energy-and-metabolism-3-the-laws-of-thermodynamics">Energy and Metabolism</a> , <a href="https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/6-3-the-laws-of-thermodynamics">section 6.3: The Laws of Thermodynamics</a>, and <a href="https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/6-4-atp-adenosine-triphosphate">6.4 ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate</a>.

Cellular processes such as building and breaking down complex molecules occur through stepwise chemical reactions. Some of these chemical reactions are ...

Education

JoVE Core

Cell Biology

Unit 1

Energy and Catalysis

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

atp powers cellular work

ATP powers many kinds of cellular work by coupling energy-releasing reactions to energy-requiring ones. Some reactions happen on their own and release energy. Others need an energy input to move forward. Cells link these reactions so important processes can still occur.

Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, stores energy that cells can use quickly. ATP hydrolysis is the breaking of ATP, and it releases energy. Cells often use that released energy to drive endergonic reactions, which are reactions that require energy. This coupling helps cells carry out most energy-requiring reactions.

One major example is the sodium-potassium pump, or Na+/K+ pump. This transmembrane ion pump moves sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell. Many cell processes bring sodium in and potassium out, so a large share of cellular ATP is used to keep these ion levels stable. The pump works constantly to support cell function.

ATP also helps reactions in metabolism, including the first steps of glycolysis, which is part of cellular respiration. In the first step, ATP phosphorylates glucose by adding a phosphate group. This creates a high-energy but unstable intermediate. The phosphorylation causes a conformational change, or shape change, that lets the molecule continue through the pathway.

That shape change allows the phosphorylated glucose to become phosphorylated fructose, which is needed for glycolysis to proceed. Here again, the exergonic reaction of ATP hydrolysis is paired with an endergonic reaction in the pathway. The energy released from breaking a phosphate bond in ATP is used to phosphorylate another molecule and keep the reaction series moving forward.

ATP Powers Cellular Work

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ATP powers cellular transport and many reactions by transferring energy through phosphorylation. ATP is a highly unstable molecule. If it is not used quickly, it breaks down into ADP and inorganic phosphate, and the released energy is lost as heat. Cells use ATP through energy coupling. This means the exergonic reaction of ATP hydrolysis is linked to an endergonic reaction so the reaction can move forward. One major example is the sodium-potassium pump, a transmembrane ion pump that is vital...

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ATP powers many kinds of cellular work by coupling energy-releasing reactions to energy-requiring ones. Some reactions happen on their own and release energy. Others need an energy input to move forward. Cells link these reactions so important processes can still occur. Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, stores energy that cells can use quickly. ATP hydrolysis is the breaking of ATP, and it releases energy. Cells often use that released energy to drive endergonic reactions, which are reactions...

key terms and concepts

See how ATP drives cellular work through energy coupling, from the sodium-potassium pump to glucose phosphorylation in glycolysis.

ATP Powers Cellular Work | JoVE K12

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ATP Powers Cellular Work

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