Every explanation I’ve seen for this doesn’t really explain how it works, just that hydrolyzing ATP releases the energy it has.
But how does that actually power the reactions in our cells? What type of energy is released and how does it work to move and make other molecules?
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ATP sticks to a protein, and the protein conformation (shape) changes because a new shape is more energy favorable now.
The protein releases something. Most often an ADP (ATP missing a phosphate), but sometimes a phosphate or an AMP (ATP missing 2 phosphates). The shape of the protein changes again.
The protein releases the rest (sometimes in more than one step), and at each step the shape changes. In the end, the protein released everything and the shape is the initial shape.
The protein can accept a new ATP and the cycle continues.
The change of shape is the protein doing its job. Sometimes, it can be a pump pumping, a walker walking, a pore opening, and closing, etc.
The protein might wait for another signal before changing conformation and releasing something. Some proteins just need to change constantly, but others need to be active just when needed.
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