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jcimslast Monday at 3:10 PM2 repliesview on HN

Yep

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicase

The wild thing is that it doesn't have a 'gas tank' of ATP to drive the reaction, it goes this fast while being fueled one molecule at a time from the environment.

Where does the ATP come from?

Buckle up my mechanical engineer friend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT5AXGS1aL8

I've watched that video a hundred times and it still gives me chills haha.


Replies

rolphlast Monday at 7:15 PM

the reactant molecules themselves, are primed with an ATP like a one use capacitor, it provides threshold energy, and is "consumed" as part of the reaction.

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jinnkolast Monday at 7:58 PM

I remember studying this in detail 30 years ago. To watch that whole process in a video now it's mind blowing. Thank you.