The true measure of an appraisalâwhether a gem, jewelry, or a watchâis a combination of sophisticated laboratory technology, and expertise in interpreting the test results.
ATP works by losing the endmost phosphate group when instructed to do so by an enzyme. This reaction releases a lot of energy, which the organism can then use to build proteins, contact muscles, etc. The reaction product is adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and the phosphate group either ends up as orthophosphate (HPO 4) or attached to another molecule (e.g. an alcohol).
The mitochondrial enzyme ATP synthase plays a crucial role in the process. ATP synthase is a protein complex that is essentially a proton-driven rotary motor that produces ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate (P i). ATP serves as the energy currency of the cell and can be thought of as an available source of chemical energy.