Illustrations of the Uses of ATP: Ion Transport, Biosynthesis, and Motility

ATP powers most of the endergonic processes in cells. How the potential energy of the phosphoanhydride bond of ATP may be used to drive otherwise unfavorable reactions (Fig. 11) is discussed in this section. This discussion focuses on three major uses of ATP: the generation of ion gradients, biosynthesis, and movement.

Figure 11 Uses of ATP. The diagram shows some of the major processes in cells that are powered by ATP hydrolysis.