3.1 – The importance of ATP
Syllabus objectives
(a) the synthesis of ATP involving a flow of protons through the enzyme ATP synthetase, the
process of chemiosmosis and the electrochemical gradient
(b) the similarity between mitochondrial and chloroplast membrane function in providing a
proton gradient for ATP synthesis
(c) the proton gradient; maintained by proton pumps driven by potential energy associated
with excited electrons
(d) the electron transport chain is formed from an alternate arrangement of pumps and
electron carriers (names of proton pumps and electron carriers in the electron transport
system are not required)
Learning objective Revision
notes
completed?
1. Describe the structure of ATP and state how it is formed and
broken down
2. Explain why ATP is the universal energy currency (link to properties,
structure and formation).
3. Recall the structural adaptations of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
4. Distinguish between photophosphorylation, oxidative
phosphorylation and substrate level phosphorylation.
5. Explain the role of dehydrogenase enzymes in relation to
coenzymes e.g. red NAD
6. Explain how inner mitochondrial and chloroplast membranes
establish proton gradients.
7. Describe the movement of electrons through electron carriers to
the terminal electron acceptor.
8. Describe the formation of ATP by ATP synthetase – CHEMIOSMOSIS
9. Compare and contrast the formation of ATP in chloroplasts and
mitochondria
List of key words
1
, 1. Phosphorylation 2. Photophosphorylation 3. Substrate level
phosphorylation
4. Oxidative 5. Universal energy 6. ATP synthetase
phosphorylation currency
7. ATPase 8. Coenzymes 9. NAD
10.FAD 11.NADP 12.Electron carrier
13.Electrochemical 14.Chemiosmosis 15.Proton pump
gradient
16.Oxidation 17.Reduction 18.Dehydrogenase
Recap of ATP from AS
1. Draw a basic labelled diagram to show the structure of ATP.
ATP is a nucleotide consisting of an organic base, adenine, a five carbon sugar (ribose) and
a sequence of three phosphate groups
2
, ATP is often called the universal energy currency in living organisms as it provides a
common source of energy for all species for most energy requiring chemical reactions e.g.
anabolic reactions.
Living organisms use the gradual release of energy in small steps to produce ATP
ADP is converted to ATP by the addition of a phosphate molecule
2. What is ATP used for? List at least 4 processes.
3
Syllabus objectives
(a) the synthesis of ATP involving a flow of protons through the enzyme ATP synthetase, the
process of chemiosmosis and the electrochemical gradient
(b) the similarity between mitochondrial and chloroplast membrane function in providing a
proton gradient for ATP synthesis
(c) the proton gradient; maintained by proton pumps driven by potential energy associated
with excited electrons
(d) the electron transport chain is formed from an alternate arrangement of pumps and
electron carriers (names of proton pumps and electron carriers in the electron transport
system are not required)
Learning objective Revision
notes
completed?
1. Describe the structure of ATP and state how it is formed and
broken down
2. Explain why ATP is the universal energy currency (link to properties,
structure and formation).
3. Recall the structural adaptations of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
4. Distinguish between photophosphorylation, oxidative
phosphorylation and substrate level phosphorylation.
5. Explain the role of dehydrogenase enzymes in relation to
coenzymes e.g. red NAD
6. Explain how inner mitochondrial and chloroplast membranes
establish proton gradients.
7. Describe the movement of electrons through electron carriers to
the terminal electron acceptor.
8. Describe the formation of ATP by ATP synthetase – CHEMIOSMOSIS
9. Compare and contrast the formation of ATP in chloroplasts and
mitochondria
List of key words
1
, 1. Phosphorylation 2. Photophosphorylation 3. Substrate level
phosphorylation
4. Oxidative 5. Universal energy 6. ATP synthetase
phosphorylation currency
7. ATPase 8. Coenzymes 9. NAD
10.FAD 11.NADP 12.Electron carrier
13.Electrochemical 14.Chemiosmosis 15.Proton pump
gradient
16.Oxidation 17.Reduction 18.Dehydrogenase
Recap of ATP from AS
1. Draw a basic labelled diagram to show the structure of ATP.
ATP is a nucleotide consisting of an organic base, adenine, a five carbon sugar (ribose) and
a sequence of three phosphate groups
2
, ATP is often called the universal energy currency in living organisms as it provides a
common source of energy for all species for most energy requiring chemical reactions e.g.
anabolic reactions.
Living organisms use the gradual release of energy in small steps to produce ATP
ADP is converted to ATP by the addition of a phosphate molecule
2. What is ATP used for? List at least 4 processes.
3
