6.3 How is cell energy transported within cells?

6.3 How is cell energy transported within cells?

1. transportation of energy in cells

   • glucose is the energy provider, energy from glucose is transferred to energy carrier-molecules
   • energy carrier-molecules are high-energy molecules that are synthesized at the site for an exergonic reaction
     • like rechargeable batteries
   • energy carrier-molecules only transfer and capture energy within cells

2. ATP and electron carriers transport energy within cells

   • ATP adenosine triphosphate is the most common energy-carrier molecule in the body is produced during the breaking down of exergonic reactions
     • called "energy currency" of cells
     • most ATP is produced in the mitochondria. Mitochondria is known as the power house of the cell
     • not a long-term energy-storage molecule: life time in cell is short; it's recycled about 1,400 times a day
   • ADP adenosine diphosphate
     • ADP to ATP, endergonic reaction
   • electron carriers
     • capture energetic electrons along with hydrogen ions (H+)
       • energetic electrons gain the energy from exergonic reactions, in which glucose breakdown and sun capturing in photosynthesis happen
     • carries energy and transfers their high energy electrons to other molecules to form ATP, NADPH, FADH2

3. coupled reactions link exergonic with endergonic reactions

   • coupled reaction
     • an exergonic reaction provides the energy needed to drive an endergonic reaction using ATP electron carriers as intermediates
       • ATP are a must because exergonic and endergonic reactions occur in different places within a cell
     • energy is lost as heat in this process of transformation
       • Energy released by exergonic reactions must exceed the energy needed to drive the endergonic reaction

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