ATPdrives

ATPdrives is a colloquial term used in biology education to describe the role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis in powering mechanical work inside cells. It is not a formally defined molecular entity, but an umbrella concept that encompasses how ATP-dependent enzymes, or ATPases, convert chemical energy into motion or force.

In cells, many processes rely on ATP-driven conformational changes. ATP is bound by motor proteins such as kinesin, dynein, and myosin, which undergo cyclic changes upon hydrolysis to walk along cytoskeletal filaments, carrying vesicles, organelles, or chromosomes. The energy released during ATP hydrolysis is used to shift protein domains, producing directed movement or force.

Examples include kinesin and dynein moving along microtubules; myosin propelling muscle contraction and other cellular movements. ATP synthase can operate in reverse, hydrolyzing ATP to pump protons, illustrating energy transduction in molecular machines. The term ATPdrives emphasizes energy conversion rather than the identity of the molecules alone.

Usage and reception: The term is used to illustrate energy transduction in classroom settings; it is not universally adopted in primary literature, where specific motor proteins and reaction cycles are described directly. It can help students understand why ATP is required for active transport, muscle function, and organelle positioning. See also: ATP, ATPase, motor protein, kinesin, dynein, myosin, energy transduction.