| How does the cell make thermodynamically
unfavorable reactions go? One solution is to team up
or "couple" an endergonic reaction with an
exergonic one: for example, the hydrolysis of ATP to
ADP + Pi + energy.
Certain enzymes make this coupling possible. These
enzymes catalyze a reaction by taking energy from ATP
and transferring it to other reactants. Some enzymes
transfer a high energy phosphate from ATP to another
reactant. We call the resulting molecule a phosphorylated
intermediate. |
