Wednesday, March 10, 2010

More on ATP Hydrolysis

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301091428.htm

Researchers at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center recently discovered how ATP is broken down in the cells. They investigated a family of the proteins that break down ATP called Kinesins. They used X-ray crystallography to develop get an idea of the stucture.

They tracked a specific kinesin in the cyclic cycle and found that water molecules actually play a pivitol role in the cycle. And the protein uses this water to break down ATP.

Posted by Jono Turchetta

4 comments:

  1. I found this post incredibly interesting because ATP is the energy that drives and controls our lives and existence on earth.

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  2. It is interesting that water played such a major role in the process. It is also incredible that they are able to create mimic ATP.

    Robert Stenger

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  3. It is cool to know the actual process that takes place during the breaking down of ATP into ADP. When I learned about ATP in my high school Bio classes we didn't learn much more than that it is "magically broken down."

    --Will Black

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  4. I was already familiar with the role of water in breaking ATP down to ADP. However, what is interesting about this article is the investigation of the Kinesin proteins. I am left curious to know the exact mechanism of reaction between Kinesin and water, and how this leads to the breakdown of ATP.

    -Cullen

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