Energy is a Way of Life

All organisms need chemical energy to carry out their life processes. In
general, energy is stored in the chemical bonds of molecular compounds.
Producers are able to convert light energy into sugar or food energy through
photosynthesis. Sugar is a form of stored energy. Consumers eat food that is
primarily made up of carbon-based molecules found in carbohydrates, lipids,
and proteins. Energy is stored in the chemical bonds of these molecules.
When these carbon-based molecules are broken down through chemical
reactions, energy is released or transferred into other chemicals that can be
used by cells.
The ATP-ADP Cycle
Cells require a direct source of energy to build or transport molecules, repair
tissues, and grow or contract microfilaments for movement. This energy
source comes from a molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP. ATP in
cells is like gasoline for a car because it provides energy for the cell. Energy is
released when a phosphate group is removed from the molecule. When this
happens, ATP becomes adenosine diphosphate or ADP. Energy stored in food
can be used by cells to add a phosphate group to ADP to make ATP. This
cycling of ATP to ADP occurs in a metabolic process called cellular
respiration.

-P
ADP

ATP
+P

ADP and ATP gain or lose a phosphate group as cells go through metabolic
processes. ADP gains a third phosphate group (+P) and changes ADP to ATP.
As ATP loses the third phosphate group, energy is released and ATP becomes
ADP. The cycle of gaining and losing energy continues until the cell dies. ADP
provides some energy for the cell, but the cell can do a lot more with ATP.

Energy is a Way of Life

All organisms need chemical energy to carry out their life processes. In
general, energy is stored in the chemical bonds of molecular compounds.
Producers are able to convert light energy into sugar or food energy through
photosynthesis. Sugar is a form of stored energy. Consumers eat food that is
primarily made up of carbon-based molecules found in carbohydrates, lipids,
and proteins. Energy is stored in the chemical bonds of these molecules.
When these carbon-based molecules are broken down through chemical
reactions, energy is released or transferred into other chemicals that can be
used by cells.
The ATP-ADP Cycle
Cells require a direct source of energy to build or transport molecules, repair
tissues, and grow or contract microfilaments for movement. This energy
source comes from a molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP. ATP in
cells is like gasoline for a car because it provides energy for the cell. Energy is
released when a phosphate group is removed from the molecule. When this
happens, ATP becomes adenosine diphosphate or ADP. Energy stored in food
can be used by cells to add a phosphate group to ADP to make ATP. This
cycling of ATP to ADP occurs in a metabolic process called cellular
respiration.

-P
ADP

ATP
+P

ADP and ATP gain or lose a phosphate group as cells go through metabolic
processes. ADP gains a third phosphate group (+P) and changes ADP to ATP.
As ATP loses the third phosphate group, energy is released and ATP becomes
ADP. The cycle of gaining and losing energy continues until the cell dies. ADP
provides some energy for the cell, but the cell can do a lot more with ATP.