Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the fuel of life, the molecule which provides cells the energy they need to carry out their function. The purpose of ATP has been known for eighty years; however, the way in which it is specifically broken down was just discovered recently. Most scientists thought that one of the phosphate groups breaks off as a result of some kind of protein or amino acid, but now scientists have discovered that the process involves two water molecules that are attached to a protein. The second water molecule takes the proton from the first water molecule and this proton is transferred across a "bridge" made by the two water molecules that are attached to different parts of the protein. When the proton is transferred, the bridge unfurls and the protein is able to function in the cell.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301091428.htm
Posted by Samir Gupta
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This is very interesting. I remember learning about ATP in my AP bio class. Someone in the class had asked a question similar to the one you have answered in the above paragraph... How ATP is broken down. I'm glad you posted this, so I can email the link to my high school bio teacher.. Very useful info!!
ReplyDeleteDora V.
As a biology major, it is very interesting to learn more about ATP. It is such an essential part of the circle of life due to its frequent appearance in process such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration. It is intriguing that researchers continue to discover more and more about such an essential part of life.
ReplyDeleteThis article is particularly interesting to me because I just learned about how ATP is broken down into usable energy in my biology class. Even though we have known about processes such as this one that occur in the human body for eighty years, it is interesting to note that we are still discovering new things about it.
ReplyDeleteBridget Malato