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Coupled reactions involve the transfer of energy between reactants and products through an intermediate. Exergonic reactions release energy and are spontaneous, while endergonic reactions require energy input. The ATP-ADP cycle is a coupled reaction, as ATP is constantly converted to ADP through hydrolysis reactions that release energy, and ADP is recycled back to ATP through energy-requiring reactions. Humans obtain energy from food, which is broken down into nutrients that enter metabolic pathways to synthesize ATP, the immediate energy currency of cells. As ATP is constantly used, it must be continuously resynthesized through phosphagen, anaerobic, or aerobic energy systems.

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7 views

Gen Bio

Coupled reactions involve the transfer of energy between reactants and products through an intermediate. Exergonic reactions release energy and are spontaneous, while endergonic reactions require energy input. The ATP-ADP cycle is a coupled reaction, as ATP is constantly converted to ADP through hydrolysis reactions that release energy, and ADP is recycled back to ATP through energy-requiring reactions. Humans obtain energy from food, which is broken down into nutrients that enter metabolic pathways to synthesize ATP, the immediate energy currency of cells. As ATP is constantly used, it must be continuously resynthesized through phosphagen, anaerobic, or aerobic energy systems.

Uploaded by

Jasmin Mateo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENERAL BIOLOGY

Lesson 6:Coupled Reaction Processes


1. WHAT IS COUPLED REACTION?
Coupled reaction is a chemical reaction in which energy is moved
from one side of the reaction to the other with a typical intermediate.

2. DIFFERENTIATE EXERGONIC AND ENDERGONIC REACTIONS


Reactions that have a negative ∆G release free energy and are
called exergonic reactions. (Handy mnemonic: EXergonic means
energy is EXiting the system.) A negative ∆G means that the
reactants, or initial state, have more free energy than the products,
or final state. Exergonic reactions are also called spontaneous
reactions, because they can occur without the addition of energy.

Reactions with a positive ∆G (∆G > 0), on the other hand, require
an input of energy and are called endergonic reactions. In this case,
the products, or final state, have more free energy than the
reactants, or initial state. Endergonic reactions are non-spontaneous,
meaning that energy must be added before they can proceed. You
can think of endergonic reactions as storing some of the added
energy in the higher-energy products they form.

3. EXPLAIN WHY ATP-ADP CYCLE IS A COUPLED REACTION


Adenosine 5'-triphosphate, or ATP, is the principal molecule for
storing and transferring energy in cells. It is often referred to as the
energy currency of the cell and can be compared to storing money
in a bank. ATP can be used to store energy for future reactions or
be withdrawn to pay for reactions when energy is required by the
cell. Animals store the energy obtained from the breakdown of food
as ATP. Likewise, plants capture and store the energy they derive
from light during photosynthesis in ATP molecules. ATP is a
nucleotide consisting of an adenine base attached to a ribose sugar,
which is attached to three phosphate groups. These three phosphate
groups are linked to one another by two high-energy bonds called
phosphoanhydride bonds. When one phosphate group is removed by
breaking a phosphoanhydride bond in a process called hydrolysis,
energy is released, and ATP is converted to adenosine diphosphate
(ADP). Likewise, energy is also released when a phosphate is
removed from ADP to form adenosine monophosphate (AMP).
This free energy can be transferred to other molecules to make
unfavorable reactions in a cell favorable. AMP can then be recycled into
ADP or ATP by forming new phosphoanhydride bonds to store energy
once again. In the cell, AMP, ADP, and ATP are constantly
interconverted as they participate in biological reactions.
The cycle repeats… that is why it referred to as coupled reaction

4. HOW ATP IS SYNTHESIZED FROM THE FOOD WE EAT?


We all know that the human body needs energy to function, but
where does this energy come from? Ultimately, the energy that keeps
us moving comes from the food we eat. However, we cannot use
energy directly from food—it must first be converted into adenosine
triphosphate, or ATP, the immediate useable form of chemical energy
utilized for all cellular function. The body does store a minimal
amount of ATP within the muscles, but the majority is synthesized
from the foods we eat.

Food is made up of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and these


nutrients are broken down into their simplest forms (glucose, fatty
acids and amino acids) during digestion. Once these nutrients are
broken down, they are transported through the blood to either be
used in a metabolic pathway or stored for later use.
Because we do not store a significant amount of ATP and need a
continuous supply, it must be constantly resynthesized. This occurs in
several ways using one of three energy systems:
Phosphagen (immediate source)
Anaerobic (somewhat slow, uses carbohydrates)
Aerobic (slow, uses either carbohydrate or fat)

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