Where does ATP come from?

Question

How do we obtain ATP...i know we use it for storing and then releasing energy...but where do we get it from//what is phosphate

Answer 1

ATP comes from the food we eat. The food we eat is converted into glucose which is broken down with oxygen (aerobic) to form 36 ATP molecules. If our body does not have oxygen we convert fat or glucose from the body this method is called fermentation. You can only make 2 ATP molecules without oxygen (anaerobic) ATP is made in the mitochondria (with oxygen) and in the cytoplasm (without oxygen)

Answer 2

If you look at the structure of ATP it consists of 3 parts: Adenine, ribose and 3 phosphate groups. Phosphate groups basically have the formula H2PO4- and are linked together in ATP by a reaction called a condensation reaction.

Our metabolism gives us the ability to make the adenine and the ribose from other nutrients. We get the phosphate in our diets from just about everything we eat.

Our metabolisms make ATP by several processes, but mainly by a process called oxidative phosphorylation that takes place in mitochondria.

Answer 3

Without question, the body's most important molecule, from an energy producing standpoint, is ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate: an adenine nucleotide bound to three phosphates, manufactured in the mitochondria).

In fact, every cell in our body, stores, and uses energy, biochemically, through ATP, and on this basis ATP could be considered a universal currency of biological energy. All living things need a continual supply of energy to facilitate protein and DNA synthesis, food metabolism and transport of various ions and molecules, to enable it to function. Muscle contraction through weight-lifting also clearly requires a ready supply of easily mobilized energy. As stated, the energy used for all of these processes is ATP.

Before ATP is manufactured to provide energy though, our cells need raw materials. As humans, we obtain these raw materials in the form of calories through the oxidation of the foods we eat. However, for energy releasing purposes, these foods must firstly be converted into an easily usable molecule: ATP.

Before ATP can be used it must undergo a complex series of stages.

Firstly, the endmost of the three phosphates (each containing ten calories of energy) is removed, when signaled to do so by a co-enzyme, and this releases a large quantity of energy in the form of reaction product adenosine diphosphate (ADP). If more energy is required, the second phosphate group is removed thus forming adenosine monophosphate (AMP).

The primary fuel source for ATP production is glucose which is initially broken down into pyruvate in the cytosol of the cell. Two molecules of ATP are generated for each molecule of glucose. The addition of a water molecule (hydrolysis) breaks the ATP down into usable energy



When rapid energy production is not required, a reverse reaction takes place and the phosphate group is re-attached to the molecule with the help of ADP, phosphagen and the glycogen cycle, and ATP is again formed. This process involves the released phosphate units being transferred to other compounds in the muscle such as glucose and creatine. When this occurs, glucose is taken from its glycogen storage depot and broken down.

The energy which arises from this fragmented glucose helps to convert this glucose back to its original form upon which liberated phosphate units can be attached to ADP to from new ATP. When this cycle is completed, the new ATP units are ready for their next assignment.

In essence, the ATP molecule acts as a molecular battery, storing energy when it is not needed and releasing energy the instant one needs it. Indeed, ATP could be viewed as a fully recharged battery.

Answer 4

ATP is form in mitochondria by procrss oxidative phosporylation. phosphate is energy containg bond which is form when breaking third bond of ATP