Adenosine triphosphate more commonly referred to as ATP is a molecule whose main function is to provide energy that is required for cellular activity. Much like how money is the main currency in human economic transactions, ATP is considered the main energy currency of cellular activities. This means it is the most common transporter of energy within the cell and across the cell membranes. Enzymes are referred to as the primary catalysts of biochemical processes and are significant because they regulate the level of energy that a molecule must reach before it can release it. This paper will further discuss their significance in the chemical cellular process.
ATP is quite invaluable for short-term energy storage and transfer. When the molecule ATP is broken down through hydrolysis energy is released which is used to power reactions that are critical for development and reproduction by all living organisms. The hydrolysis of ATP to ADP plus an inorganic phosphate is reversible and constitutes a cycle (Libretexts, 2019) . This is necessary because cells tend to quickly use up ATP molecules and therefore it must be continually produced. During the process of cellular respiration the energy generated is used by a molecule of ADP to bond with a third phosphate group therefore becoming ATP ( Libretexts, 2019) . When energy is required the ATP molecule loses this third phosphate due to its highly unstable nature and reverts back to being an ADP molecule.
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As a catalyst the main function of an enzyme is to increase the rate of reaction. A cell is genetically programmed to produce a unique group of three thousand enzymes each with a specific role and function. When just one of these enzymes is lost or flawed there will be catastrophic consequences. Proteases are enzymes that assist in the digestion of proteins in a process called proteolysis (Libretexts, 2019) . The proteases break down proteins into polypeptides and further into amino acids. They are very important in the digestion process as well as digesting of cell walls of harmful toxins. Without proteases the intestinal lining will not be able to digest proteins which will result in serious health problems.
References
Libretexts. (2019) 8.1: Energy, Matter, and Enzymes. Retrieved from https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Book:_Microbiology_(OpenStax)/08:_Microbial_Metabolism/8.1:_Energy,_Matter,_and_Enzymes
