Why We Need ATP Trivia Quiz

Answer: 38

ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate.

The energy released from the oxidation of glucose during aerobic respiration is used to attach a third phosphate group to ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate), forming ATP. Energy is readily released by hydrolysing the terminal bond holding the third phosphate group to the molecule.

Answer: The Calvin cycle

ATP and NADPH are both involved in converting GP into GALP. After 6 cycles, enough GALP has been synthesised to produce one molecule of glucose. This is the light independent phase of photosynthesis.

Both ATP and NADPH are produced in the light dependent phase of photosynthesis. After light falls on chlorophyll, electrons become excited and can escape from the molecule. Electrons are then passed along an electron transfer chain and they lose is used to synthesise ATP. The electrons eventually reduce NADP to NADPH.

Answer: The ratchet mechanism

Muscle fibres are made up of myofibrils. Actin and myosin microfilaments make up these myofibrils.

ATP is attached to the head of a myosin filament and this head attaches to an "actin binding site" forming a "cross-bridge". The ATP molecule is then hydrolysed, changing its shape, allowing actin microfilaments to be drawn between the myosin. When a new molecule of ATP attaches to the myosin head the "cross-bridge" is broken and the muscle can then return to its original shape by the action of an antagonistic muscle.

Answer: Hairs standing on end

ATP is required for erector pili muscles in the skin to contract, causing hairs to stand on end. When the hairs rise there is a layer of air trapped between the tips of the hairs and the surface of the skin, which insulates the skin. This causes the temperature gradient between the skin and the air to decrease and so less heat is lost from the blood via radiation.

Answer: Transporting 3 sodium ions out of the axon and 2 potassium ions in

Sodium ions which are transported out of the axon remain there, but many of the potassium ions transported into the axon diffuse out via the potassium leakage channel. There is therefore a positive charge built up outside the axon and a negative charge built up of the inside.

The energy released by ATP is used to change the shape of the cation pump, allowing sodium and potassium ions to be transported against a concentration gradient (i.e. by active transport).

Answer: Root hair cells

As well as containing a large supply of ATP needed for the active transport of mineral ions, root hair cells have a large surface area, in order to maximise the rate of ion absorption.

The mineral ions are then transported throughout the cell by xylem vessels.

Answer: Many mitochondria

Mitochondria are the site of respiration in eukaryotic cells. They consist of a double membrane, the inner of which is folded to produce finger like projections known as cristae. Enzymes involved in respiration are found on the cristae.

Answer: Glycolysis

During glycolysis glucose is oxidised to two molecules of pyruvate by two molecules of NAD. Initially two molecules of ATP are required to provide the energy for this reaction, however four molecules of ATP are later synthesised in glycolysis.

As well as the ATP made in this stage, the reduced co-enzymes NADH (produced in glycolyis, link reaction and Kreb's cycle) and FADH (produced in Kreb's cycle) later enter the electron transport chain, producing more ATP.

Answer: Proximal convoluted tubule

Blood enters the glomerulus in the renal capsule under high pressure and so small molecules such as glucose are forced out of the blood into the filtrate.
Whereas all of the glucose is reabsorbed by active transport, other substances such as urea, excess ions and excess water pass out in urine.

Answer: Iodopsin and rhodopsin

Rhodopsin is found in rod cells in the retina. Although completely broken down (bleached) in daylight, rods can function in relative darkness due to their high sensitivity.

Iodopsin is found in cone cells in the retina. There are three types of iodopsin, one sensitive to green light, one to blue and the other to red. Cones therefore allow us to see colour.

Rhodopsin is broken down to retinal and opsin by sunlight. Upon entering a relatively dark room ATP begins to re-synthesise rhodopsin, explaining why it is possible to see objects in a dark room which you could not see before.