Energy & Chemical Reactions In Cells #1

Cells need energy to:

1. Grow

2. Maintain (repair) themselves

3. Reproduce

4. Move (or move things in and out of the cell) & change shape

5. Metabolism (Breaking down bigger molecules into smaller molecules, and getting energy from these molecules)

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Without energy, a cell dies.

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Cells chemically " burn" food molecules (glucose) to extract energy to do #1-5 above.

This "burning" takes place slowly, in hundreds of steps to keep cells from dieing of too much heat. The energy is released from the C-H bonds of glucose (simple sugar). Some of the energy that is released is used to make ATP. Energy not used to make ATP is released as heat.

ATP--------Short term energy storage molecule. All cell processes are powered by ATP. Our food energy must always be converted to ATP energy for use by the cell!

The graph above shows ADP (adenosine diphosphate) gaining energy released as glucose "burns" so that an extra P (phosphate) can be added to make energy rich ATP. The ATP is then ready to give its energy to the cell when needed!

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[Enzyme Notes]

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Paul Slichter