Which are the most often broken down to make ATP?
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Ava Patel
Studied at the University of Oxford, Lives in Oxford, UK.
As a biochemist with a focus on cellular metabolism, I can provide a detailed explanation on how ATP, the energy currency of the cell, is generated. ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is produced through a series of biochemical reactions collectively known as cellular respiration. This process involves breaking down molecules that contain energy, primarily through three stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle or TCA cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation.
Glycolysis is the first step in cellular respiration, where glucose, a six-carbon sugar, is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate, a three-carbon compound. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and does not require oxygen. Glycolysis is a series of ten enzyme-catalyzed reactions that result in the net production of two ATP molecules and two molecules of NADH, which is a reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.
Following glycolysis, if oxygen is present, the pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria where they are converted into a two-carbon compound called acetyl-CoA. This is the entry point into the citric acid cycle. The citric acid cycle is a series of eight enzyme-catalyzed reactions that occur in the mitochondrial matrix. It results in the production of two molecules of carbon dioxide, one ATP molecule (through substrate-level phosphorylation), three NADH molecules, and one FADH2 molecule (another electron carrier).
The final stage of ATP production is oxidative phosphorylation, which takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This process uses the electrons carried by NADH and FADH2 to create a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This gradient drives the enzyme ATP synthase, which synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. Oxidative phosphorylation is the most efficient way cells produce ATP, and it can generate up to 34 ATP molecules per molecule of glucose.
Now, regarding the types of molecules that are broken down to make ATP, it is not only sugars like glucose and fructose that are utilized. While glucose is a primary source of energy for many organisms, other molecules can also serve as substrates for ATP production. These include:
1. Fats: Lipids, particularly triglycerides, are a rich source of energy. They are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids through a process called lipolysis. The glycerol can enter glycolysis, while the fatty acids are converted into acetyl-CoA and enter the citric acid cycle.
2. Amino Acids: Proteins, which are made up of amino acids, can also be used for energy. Amino acids are first deaminated to remove the amino group, and the resulting carbon skeletons can be converted into intermediates of the citric acid cycle or used for gluconeogenesis to produce glucose.
3. Alcohols and Ketone Bodies: Some organisms, particularly yeast and certain bacteria, can metabolize alcohols and ketone bodies to produce ATP.
4. Other Sugars: Fructose and galactose, which are monosaccharides like glucose, can also be metabolized to produce ATP. They are converted into intermediates of glycolysis and then proceed through the same pathway.
Among these, lipids are often considered to be the most energy-dense molecules and can yield more ATP per molecule than carbohydrates when completely oxidized. For example, the complete oxidation of a fatty acid can yield up to 130 ATP molecules, whereas the oxidation of one molecule of glucose yields approximately 38 ATP molecules.
In summary, while glucose is a primary and common substrate for ATP production, other molecules such as lipids, amino acids, and other sugars can also be broken down to generate ATP. The efficiency of ATP production from these substrates varies, with lipids generally providing a higher yield per molecule than carbohydrates.
Glycolysis is the first step in cellular respiration, where glucose, a six-carbon sugar, is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate, a three-carbon compound. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and does not require oxygen. Glycolysis is a series of ten enzyme-catalyzed reactions that result in the net production of two ATP molecules and two molecules of NADH, which is a reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.
Following glycolysis, if oxygen is present, the pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria where they are converted into a two-carbon compound called acetyl-CoA. This is the entry point into the citric acid cycle. The citric acid cycle is a series of eight enzyme-catalyzed reactions that occur in the mitochondrial matrix. It results in the production of two molecules of carbon dioxide, one ATP molecule (through substrate-level phosphorylation), three NADH molecules, and one FADH2 molecule (another electron carrier).
The final stage of ATP production is oxidative phosphorylation, which takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This process uses the electrons carried by NADH and FADH2 to create a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This gradient drives the enzyme ATP synthase, which synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. Oxidative phosphorylation is the most efficient way cells produce ATP, and it can generate up to 34 ATP molecules per molecule of glucose.
Now, regarding the types of molecules that are broken down to make ATP, it is not only sugars like glucose and fructose that are utilized. While glucose is a primary source of energy for many organisms, other molecules can also serve as substrates for ATP production. These include:
1. Fats: Lipids, particularly triglycerides, are a rich source of energy. They are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids through a process called lipolysis. The glycerol can enter glycolysis, while the fatty acids are converted into acetyl-CoA and enter the citric acid cycle.
2. Amino Acids: Proteins, which are made up of amino acids, can also be used for energy. Amino acids are first deaminated to remove the amino group, and the resulting carbon skeletons can be converted into intermediates of the citric acid cycle or used for gluconeogenesis to produce glucose.
3. Alcohols and Ketone Bodies: Some organisms, particularly yeast and certain bacteria, can metabolize alcohols and ketone bodies to produce ATP.
4. Other Sugars: Fructose and galactose, which are monosaccharides like glucose, can also be metabolized to produce ATP. They are converted into intermediates of glycolysis and then proceed through the same pathway.
Among these, lipids are often considered to be the most energy-dense molecules and can yield more ATP per molecule than carbohydrates when completely oxidized. For example, the complete oxidation of a fatty acid can yield up to 130 ATP molecules, whereas the oxidation of one molecule of glucose yields approximately 38 ATP molecules.
In summary, while glucose is a primary and common substrate for ATP production, other molecules such as lipids, amino acids, and other sugars can also be broken down to generate ATP. The efficiency of ATP production from these substrates varies, with lipids generally providing a higher yield per molecule than carbohydrates.
2024-05-18 16:56:01
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Studied at Stanford University, Lives in Silicon Valley. Currently leading a team of software engineers at a tech startup.
what types of molecules that are broken down to make ATP? Which are most broken down to form ATP? sugars such as glucose and fructose are broken down by glycolysis. The most broken down to form ATP is lipids and carbohydrates.
2023-06-13 04:02:37
Mia Johnson
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what types of molecules that are broken down to make ATP? Which are most broken down to form ATP? sugars such as glucose and fructose are broken down by glycolysis. The most broken down to form ATP is lipids and carbohydrates.
