Question

Hydrolysis of ATP releases energy, which results in the production of ADP and inorganic phosphate. What is commonly the immediate fate of the inorganic phosphate in the cell

a) It is incorporated into DNA during replication.
b) It is used to phosphorylate other molecules, often as a part of energy-requiring reactions.
c) It is converted to a gas and released from the cell.
d) It is stored in the cell vacuole for later use.

Answer 1

The immediate fate of inorganic phosphate released from ATP hydrolysis is most commonly the phosphorylation of other molecules, which plays a crucial role in energy-requiring cellular reactions and processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

When ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is hydrolyzed, energy is released resulting in the production of ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate (Pi). The immediate fate of the inorganic phosphate in the cell is generally the phosphorylation of other molecules. This is often a part of energy-requiring reactions such as metabolic processes and cellular signaling pathways. For example, when glucose enters a cell, it is phosphorylated by ATP, transforming it into glucose phosphate, which can then be stored or used for energy.

The energy released from ATP hydrolysis is frequently employed in cellular respiration and in processes such as the sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ pump), where phosphorylation plays a key role in energy coupling and transport of ions across cell membranes.