The inorganic phosphate released during hydrolysis of ATP can phosphorylate other compounds, often making them more reactive
When ATP breaks down, it releases a phosphate group. That phosphate can attach to other molecules, making them more chemically reactive and easier for cells to use.
Real World
In glycolysis, glucose is phosphorylated by ATP to form glucose-6-phosphate, destabilising the molecule and making it reactive enough to proceed through the rest of the pathway — a step that occurs in every cell in your body thousands of times per second.
Exam Focus
When explaining phosphorylation, state that it lowers activation energy or increases reactivity of the substrate — a precise mechanistic point examiners reward.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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