Journal of Energy Bioscience 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 21-30 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 21 Systematic Review Open Access The Central Role of ATP in Cellular Energy Metabolism: Structure, Function, and Regulatory Mechanisms Kaiwen Liang Agri-Products Application Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resouces, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: kaiwen.liang@hitar.org Journal of Energy Bioscience, 2025, Vol.16, No.1 doi: 10.5376/jeb.2025.16.0003 Received: 08 Dec., 2024 Accepted: 12 Jan., 2025 Published: 27 Jan., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Liang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Liang K.W.., 2025, The central role of atp in cellular energy metabolism: structure, function, and regulatory mechanisms, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 16(1): 21-30 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2025.16.0003) Abstract This study focuses on the role of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in providing energy to cells, and also talks about its structure, mode of action, and how it is controlled. ATP is synthesized in the mitochondria of cells, specifically by something called F-ATP synthase, which is produced in an aerobic environment. This process requires the proton driving force provided by the respiratory chain. The ratio of ATP to ADP in cells is critical, and it affects many cellular activities, such as the activation of certain enzymes and the use of energy. The activity of ATP synthase is affected by ADP, ATP itself, and calcium ions. These factors are important for cells to maintain energy balance and can also regulate mitochondrial function. Another key player is AMP kinase (AMPK). It can "sense" the energy situation of the cell and regulate the production and use of ATP. If these regulatory processes go wrong, some diseases may occur, indicating that ATP is important for cell health. ATP is a core part of cellular energy metabolism. Understanding its synthesis, use, and regulation process can not only help us better understand the operation of cells, but also may provide new methods for treating diseases related to energy metabolism. Keywords ATP; Cellular energy metabolism; Oxidative phosphorylation; F-ATP synthase; AMPK; Mitochondrial function; Energy homeostasis 1 Introduction Energy metabolism in cells is the process of converting food into energy that the body can use. This process is very important for life activities. Most of this energy exists in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is like the "energy currency" in cells (Erecínska and Silver, 1989; Erecínska and Wilson, 2005; Wilson and Matschinsky, 2022). There are two main ways to generate ATP: one is glycolysis, which takes place in the cytoplasm; the other is oxidative phosphorylation, which occurs in mitochondria (Erecínska and Silver, 1989; Erecínska and Wilson, 2005; Wilson and Matschinsky, 2022). The efficient synthesis of ATP has a great impact on maintaining cell stability, growth and various functions (Erecínska and Wilson, 2005; Boon et al., 2020). Cells adjust the production and use of ATP to meet energy needs according to different physiological states (Erecínska and Wilson, 2005; Yu and Pekkurnaz, 2018). To understand how ATP works, we must first understand its structure, function, and regulation. ATP plays a key role in energy transfer and is involved in many cellular activities, such as muscle contraction, neurotransmission, and various synthetic reactions (Erecínska and Silver, 1989; Erecínska and Wilson, 2005). If there is a problem with the production or use of ATP, it may cause problems in cells and lead to some diseases, such as metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancer (Herzig and Shaw, 2017; Yu and Pekkurnaz, 2018; Vercellino and Sazanov, 2021). Cells maintain ATP balance in many ways, such as the regulation of AMPK (an energy-sensing protein kinase) or the dynamic changes of mitochondria, which help cells cope with energy stress (Dzeja and Terzic, 2003; Herzig and Shaw, 2017). This study will focus on the synthesis and utilization pathways of ATP, especially the processes of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. It will also explore the interaction between ATP and other molecules and its regulatory
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