Question

how do cells make use of these activated carriers?

Answer 1

Activated carriers are molecules that can be split into other molecules and releases energy. They releases energy only when the concentration of these molecules are much high in respect to equilibrium.

For example: ATP, GTP, NADP, NADPH, NADPH2, FADH2.

These activated carrier molecules have different kind of bonding patterns in their relative structures. These bonds were broken down by external stimulation of cell signalling pathways and releases energy.

For example ATP:

ATP is energy currency of cell. Adenosin triphosphate is a nucleotide triphosphate which splits and form Adenosine diphosphate, phosphate and energy. ATP have three phosphate molecules present in a linear manner linked together by Covalent phosphate bonds. Energy is present in the stored form in these bonds. Splitting of these bonds releases energy. The amount of energy is approximately 30kj or 7.5 kilo calories per mole of ATP.

Biochemical reactions in the cell converts ATP into ADP and releases energy which is consumed by cell. Cell can forms ATP again by transferring phosphate group to ADP. The energy is stored in covalent bonds which is present between 2nd and 3rd phosphate molecules.

When cell requires energy adinosine triphosphate releases its third phosphate molecule and supplies energy to cell.

When cell have high amount of adenosine diphosphate and free phosphate molecules, formation of ATP occurs.