Question

Given the energy charge equation below, if a biological system has an EC = 0.8, what is true about the concentrations of ATP, ADP, and AMP in the system? Choose an answer choice and explain why.
EC = [ATP] + 0.5 [ADP] / [ATP] + [ADP] + [AMP]
a. The concentrations are all equal
b. There is more ADP in the system than ATP or AMP.
c. There is more ATP in the system than ADP or AMP.
d. There is more AMP in the system than ATP and ADP.

Answer 1

Answer:

c. There is more ATP in the system than ADP or AMP.

Explanation:

ATP is an energy molecule, and in the equation is the most important parameter. if you have all concentrations equal, the answer is EC=0.5 independently of the values

If you add more ADP on the system, the total will be reduced due the term on the numerator is divided by 0.5 - values are usually between 0.5-0.6

If you have more ATP on the system the numbers will automatically arise, due the importance of ATP term on the numerator, usually the EC is equal to 0.8-0.87.

If there is more AMP on the system numbers fall because the denominator is much greater than numerator. Usually the EC is equal to 0.5