In: Biology
A. What is meant by energetic coupling? What is meant by the term phosphorylation and what role does phosphorylation play in energetic coupling?
B. Describe at least one actual example of energetic coupling,
A) Energetic coupling is the transfer of energy from catabolism to anabolism .
Phosphorylation is an addition of a phosphoryl group ( ) to an organic molecule. Phosphorylation has an important regulatory role in cells. Glucose and other sugars are often Phosphorylated in the first step of their break down .Glucose and fructose are Phosphorylated to give rise to glucose-6-phosphate by the activity of hexokinase. Then to fructose-6-phosphate, fructose1,6-biphosphate ,triose phosphate , 1,3 bisphosphoglyceric acid. (Here ATP is produced from ADP), 2xphosphenolpyruvate (ATP is formed from ADP).
B) Energetic coupling occurs when the energy produced by one reaction is used to carry along another reaction.
For example , the energy released from the breakdown of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) into ADP (Adenosine diphosphate) is used to perform cellular functions.