Final answer:
A) Energy is released when it loses a phosphate group. B) It is made up of an adenosine nucleotide and three phosphate groups. C) It is a great short-term energy source. ATP is a molecule made up of an adenosine nucleotide and three phosphate groups, releases energy when it loses a phosphate, and is a short-term energy source, but is not very stable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
Adenosine Triphosphate, commonly known as ATP, is often referred to as the energy currency of the cell. The true statements about ATP are: A) Energy is released when it loses a phosphate group, B) It is made up of an adenosine nucleotide and three phosphate groups, and C) It is a great short-term energy source. The molecule itself is not very stable due to the repulsion between the negatively charged phosphate groups, making statement D false. ATP is created during different processes including catabolism, and it stores energy in phosphoanhydride bonds. When these bonds are broken, typically during a process called hydrolysis, the molecule releases energy. ATP is converted into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and a phosphate group during this energy release. Cells constantly cycle ATP and ADP to store and release energy as needed.
ATP's structure consists of an adenine, a ribose, and three phosphate groups. Its instability and capacity to release energy make it an excellent, yet short-term, energy storage molecule within cells. The high-energy bond between the second and third phosphate groups is the key to ATP's ability to store and supply energy. ATP is integral in providing the energy for cellular processes by phosphorylating other molecules, which is the transfer of a phosphate group to another molecule, raising the energy level of the target molecule and making it less stable.