ATP
ATP is made up from an adenosine (adenine + ribose)
and three inorganic phosphates that are bound
together by high energy bonds.
* Inorganic = not containing carbon *
ATP is broken down by the enzyme ATPase to create ADP + P + energy that you can use for
anything in the body.
1 mol of ATP will produce 30.5kg
1 mol of ADP can be broken down into
adenosine mono phosphate +
phosphate to produce 30.5 kJ.
And there are other ways of energy
can be released by the high energy
bonds
ATP – Energy for Muscle Cells
The ATP that produces the energy for muscular contraction is myofibrillar ATPase. ATP is
broken down at the myosin head and ADP + P remains bound to myosin.
Bioenergetics: Basic Energy Systems
ATP storage in the body is very limited – it would only last for about 2 seconds of maximal
contractions. Therefore the body must constantly synthesise new ATP.
Power: rate at which ATP can be produced
Capacity: how much ATP can be produced?
If you do not have ATP this will lead to rigor mortis (stiffening of the joints and muscles of a
body a few hours after death) because ATP is needed to relax the myosin head.
There are three different ATP synthesis pathways:
ATP-PCr system
Glycolytic system
Oxidative system