Lesson Summary:
Living organisms constantly require energy for essential processes like movement, active transport, and synthesizing large molecules (anabolic processes). This energy is supplied by ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which cells generate and use as a universal energy currency. ATP is broken down through hydrolysis, releasing controlled amounts of energy. It is produced by substrate-level phosphorylation or chemiosmosis, depending on the context.

Three Key Learning Points:

  1. All cells use ATP as a quick, efficient energy source for vital activities.

  2. ATP is formed by adding phosphate groups to ADP through substrate-level phosphorylation or chemiosmosis.

  3. ATP hydrolysis releases energy in manageable amounts, making it ideal for cellular use