346 7 Chemical Equilibrium
by being distorted into a conformation resembling a transition state. The important
aspect of the proposed mechanism is that the phosphate is not simply released into the
solution; it is held in the active site of the enzyme until it reacts with an ADP molecule.
Since the first step is not repeated until the second step occurs, the hydrolysis of PEP
does not occur without the regeneration of ATP and the two reactions are combined
into a single reaction.
EXAMPLE7.24
Find the equilibrium constant at 298.15 K for the combined reaction:
ADP+PEPAT P+Py
Solution
The equilibrium constant for the combined reaction is
Ke−∆G
◦′/RT
exp
(
24300 J mol−^1
(8.3145 J K−^1 mol−^1 )(298.15 K)
)
e^9.^803 1. 81 × 104
Exercise 7.23
Find the equilibrium ATP concentration for the initial concentrations of Example 7.23, treating
the combined reaction as a single reaction.
EXAMPLE7.25
The coupling of the spontaneous hydrolysis of ATP to drive other reactions is similar to the
coupling that regenerates ATP. Write a possible mechanism for the coupling of the sponta-
neous hydrolysis of ATP to drive the phosphorylation of glucose, Eq. (7.7-3).
Solution
(1) E+AT P+H 2 OEp+ADP
(2) Ep+glucoseglucose 6-phosphate+E+H 2 O
AT P+glucose→ADP+glucose 6-phosphate
where Ep stands for a phosphorylated enzyme molecule.
Exercise 7.24
For the phosphorylation of glucose,∆G◦′ 19 .4kJmol−^1. Find∆G◦′and the equilibrium
constant for the combined reaction of the previous example.