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Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleoside triphosphate [2] that provides energy to drive and support many processes in living cells, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and chemical synthesis. Found in all known forms of life, it is often referred to as the "molecular unit of currency" for intracellular energy transfer. [3]
The energy derived from the pumping of protons across a cell membrane is frequently used as the energy source in secondary active transport. In humans, sodium (Na + ) is a commonly cotransported ion across the plasma membrane, whose electrochemical gradient is then used to power the active transport of a second ion or molecule against its ...
This reflux releases free energy produced during the generation of the oxidized forms of the electron carriers (NAD + and Q) with energy provided by O 2. The free energy is used to drive ATP synthesis, catalyzed by the F 1 component of the complex. [13] Coupling with oxidative phosphorylation is a key step for ATP production.
Respiration is one of the key ways a cell releases chemical energy to fuel cellular activity. The overall reaction occurs in a series of biochemical steps, some of which are redox reactions. Although cellular respiration is technically a combustion reaction , it is an unusual one because of the slow, controlled release of energy from the series ...
Facilitated diffusion in the cell membrane, showing ion channels (left) and carrier proteins (three on the right). Facilitated diffusion is the passage of molecules or ions across a biological membrane through specific transport proteins and requires no energy input.
An energy carrier can be more valuable (have a higher quality) than a primary energy source. For example 1 megajoule (MJ) of electricity produced by a hydroelectric plant is equivalent to 3 MJ of oil. [4] Sunlight is a main source of primary energy, which can be transformed into plants and then into coal, oil and gas.
In contrast, paracellular transport is the transfer of substances across an epithelium by passing through an intercellular space between the cells. It differs from transcellular transport, where the substances travel through the cell passing through both the apical membrane and basolateral membrane; Renal physiology. Transcellular transport is ...
Oxidative phosphorylation is made up of two closely connected components: the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. The electron transport chain in the cell is the site of oxidative phosphorylation. The NADH and succinate generated in the citric acid cycle are oxidized, releasing the energy of O 2 to power the ATP synthase.