Question

How would introducing a non-hydrolyzable analog of ATP or GTP impact the cell? In other words, if the ATP and GTP cannot be hydrolyzed, what specific cell processes we have discussed in class would be impacted? Have 4 different examples.  

Answer 1

1. If ATP is not hydrolysed, then the energy investment phase of glycolysis will not occur and the conversion of glucose to pyruvic acid will not take place. This will the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl coenzyme a and then to carbon dioxide and water and therefore whole process of cellular respiration will not occur.

2. If ATP is not hydrolysed, then Calvin cycle of photosynthesis will not take place. Calvin cycle required the hydrolysis of ATP to generate glucose using atmospheric carbon dioxide and enzyme rubisco.

3. If ATP is not hydrolysed, then kinases will not be able to carry out their function. There will be no addition of phosphate group to any of the substrate and no cell signalling reactions will take place. This is particularly important in cell signalling process involving receptors like receptor tyrosine kinase etc.

4. If ATP is not hydrolysed in an animal cell, then actin myosin complexes will not be able to move fast from each other as per the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction and therefore no muscles will contract.

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