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THE TRUTH ABOUT ATP
Up until now I've referred to ATP as synonymous with energy in the body, but this actually isn't true, in this thread I'll reveal ATP's true function, and the impact it has on human biology
THREAD //
Up until now I've referred to ATP as synonymous with energy in the body, but this actually isn't true, in this thread I'll reveal ATP's true function, and the impact it has on human biology
THREAD //
ATP is an abbreviation for adenosine triphosphate, it is the most adundant compound synthesized in mitochondria
It is widely believe that ATP is also the body's carrier for energy, and that by breaking off its phosphate groups the body powers all of its chemical reactions
It is widely believe that ATP is also the body's carrier for energy, and that by breaking off its phosphate groups the body powers all of its chemical reactions
Mitochondria follow a general pattern of turning a small amount of ATP into a larger amount
This is done through a combination of different processes, the main fuel for ATP production is glucose, though fats and ketones can be used under certain conditions
This is done through a combination of different processes, the main fuel for ATP production is glucose, though fats and ketones can be used under certain conditions
I have no dispute with anything so far, but now let's get into why I don't believe ATP is the primary source of energy at all, the true source of energy, and what the body actually produces so much ATP for in the first place
I was first alerted to this idea when I began reading the work of a researcher named Dr. Gilbert Ling
Ling calculated that it would actually be IMPOSSIBLE for the body to produce enough ATP to run even just a single enzyme... the sodium-potassium pump
Ling calculated that it would actually be IMPOSSIBLE for the body to produce enough ATP to run even just a single enzyme... the sodium-potassium pump
Cells require specific concentrations of electrolytes to function, one example of this is the sodium/potassium ratio
Too much sodium causes the cell to fill with water and burst, too much potassium dehydrates the cell, a delicate balance is needed
Too much sodium causes the cell to fill with water and burst, too much potassium dehydrates the cell, a delicate balance is needed
To explain how each cell maintains this balance, researcher's in the 50's proposed that an ATP-powered enzyme called the sodium/potassium pump did all the work
When Ling saw this he realized something was fundamentally wrong, the pump essentially broke the cell's energy bank!
When Ling saw this he realized something was fundamentally wrong, the pump essentially broke the cell's energy bank!
The cell can only produce ~1/30th of the ATP it would need just to run this enzyme from daily caloric intake
Besides that, ATP's phosphate bonds are nowhere close to the highest energy bonds available, it's likely that if one enzyme breaks the bank others could too
Besides that, ATP's phosphate bonds are nowhere close to the highest energy bonds available, it's likely that if one enzyme breaks the bank others could too
So how does the cell really make all this energy?
I'm sure many of those reading are familiar with Occam's razor, the idea that the simplest explanation is the best one
It seems that an enzyme can't be necessary here, almost as if the cell has figured out a few short cuts
I'm sure many of those reading are familiar with Occam's razor, the idea that the simplest explanation is the best one
It seems that an enzyme can't be necessary here, almost as if the cell has figured out a few short cuts
I believe this is definitely that case, as did Ling, and to offer a better explanation he devised something called the association-induction hypothesis
Essentially he believe that the main function of ATP wasn't to carry energy at all, that it actually served to unfold proteins!
Essentially he believe that the main function of ATP wasn't to carry energy at all, that it actually served to unfold proteins!
Cellular and mitochondrial DNA both code for thousands of proteins all over the cell, naturally these proteins bunch together
The phosphate chain that protrudes from ATP has the ability to bind to these proteins, ATP's spread out negative charges force the proteins to straighten
The phosphate chain that protrudes from ATP has the ability to bind to these proteins, ATP's spread out negative charges force the proteins to straighten
So what does this have to do with sodium and potassium?
Ling pointed out that unwinding these proteins exposes a number of interesting structures, including carboxyl groups (-COO) which Ling found seem to bind to potassium more often than sodium!
Ling pointed out that unwinding these proteins exposes a number of interesting structures, including carboxyl groups (-COO) which Ling found seem to bind to potassium more often than sodium!
This still leaves sodium ions floating around the cell, but Ling proposed a mechanism the cell might use to expel sodium without using any ATP at all
You may have seen me mention the work of Dr. Gerald Pollock who first characterized EZ water
You may have seen me mention the work of Dr. Gerald Pollock who first characterized EZ water
Pollock essentially found that when water met a hydrophilic surface it formed a flexible "structure," where all the positive and negative poles in the water molecules lined up
He called this exclusion zone (EZ) water because it pooled negative charge and excluded positive charge
He called this exclusion zone (EZ) water because it pooled negative charge and excluded positive charge
Interestingly, Ling had proposed the same idea decades earlier!
He also realized that if the polarities of water molecules aligned it would push any free-floating positive ions out of the cell, and that the unfolded proteins would serve to orient this propulsion
He also realized that if the polarities of water molecules aligned it would push any free-floating positive ions out of the cell, and that the unfolded proteins would serve to orient this propulsion
This seems quite complex but it really is the simpler explanation, cells evolved in water and naturally took advantage of its tendency to structure
This also give the cell a massive source of free energy and energy conduction, I'll briefly lay out how this works
This also give the cell a massive source of free energy and energy conduction, I'll briefly lay out how this works
We've all heard that water conducts electricity, interestingly though, if you have pure water without any ions dissolved in it it blocks electric conduction
However, when water is structured AND contains ions it actually becomes even more conductive
However, when water is structured AND contains ions it actually becomes even more conductive
So we have:
- a network of protein coded for by DNA
- structured water surrounded them that conducts energy
- potassium ions holding the structured water and proteins together
- ATP maintaing proper protein structure
So where does most of the energy come from?
- a network of protein coded for by DNA
- structured water surrounded them that conducts energy
- potassium ions holding the structured water and proteins together
- ATP maintaing proper protein structure
So where does most of the energy come from?
I believe the simplest answer is light interacting with water
As I've already mentioned, when sunlight hits water it causes protons and electrons to split off, these are used to power the electron transport chain and other processes in the cell
As I've already mentioned, when sunlight hits water it causes protons and electrons to split off, these are used to power the electron transport chain and other processes in the cell
I've also mentioned chromophores, molecular structures that capture light energy as photons
Three of the most abundant light-catching molecules in the body are tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, amino acids found in... that's right, proteins!
Three of the most abundant light-catching molecules in the body are tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, amino acids found in... that's right, proteins!
As cells evolved in water, they were also evolving in light, this is why I'm so adamant about proper light environment, it's the strongest energy source for the entire body
The red/infrared spectrum of light has even been shown to spin ATP synthase with 100% efficiency
The red/infrared spectrum of light has even been shown to spin ATP synthase with 100% efficiency
Beyond sunlight, the chemical reactions happening in every cell have also been found to put off a small amount of UV, infrared, and visible light internally
This is referred to as biophoton emission, and was originally characterized by Dr. Albert Fritz Popp
This is referred to as biophoton emission, and was originally characterized by Dr. Albert Fritz Popp
I've already laid out how the cell captures and transports light energy throughout its structure, but EZ water also has the ability to store it
The alternating positive and negative charges resemble the structure of a battery, which likely stores some energy for future use
The alternating positive and negative charges resemble the structure of a battery, which likely stores some energy for future use
So what is ATP actually used for?
Besides maintaining protein structures, ATP actually modifies them as well by acting as a cofactor for a large group of enzymes called kinases
Kinases modulate biological activity by adding phosphate groups to different protein structures
Besides maintaining protein structures, ATP actually modifies them as well by acting as a cofactor for a large group of enzymes called kinases
Kinases modulate biological activity by adding phosphate groups to different protein structures
Ling himself even pointed out that ATP may still be an alternative source of fuel in suboptimal conditions
For example, during winter humans may have gone into ketosis as a result of more meat consumption or food shortage, burning fat produces 4x more ATP
For example, during winter humans may have gone into ketosis as a result of more meat consumption or food shortage, burning fat produces 4x more ATP
We also maintain body temperature through cellular heat production, which increases the amount of light created internally, especially beneficial infrared light
It seems most likely that light is the body's preferred fuel, but that ATP may be used as a backup
It seems most likely that light is the body's preferred fuel, but that ATP may be used as a backup
I'm sure some of you may not take my word for this, especially when it goes against everything you've ever been taught, but I invite you to read some of the experiments Ling did to prove his theory:
http://www.physiologicalchemistryandphysics.com/pdf/PCP40_ling_ochsenfeld.pdf
http://www.physiologicalchemistryandphysics.com/pdf/PCP40_ling_ochsenfeld.pdf
The biggest thing I want you to take away from all this is that light and water are the two most important aspects of cell function
Proper hydration and a good light environment is the best thing you can do for your health
Proper hydration and a good light environment is the best thing you can do for your health
I don't believe Ling was 100% correct on everything, but I do believe he got far closer to the truth than anyone else at the time
Modern research and education has pointed itself in the wrong direction by ignoring his work, hopefully we wake up to this soon
Modern research and education has pointed itself in the wrong direction by ignoring his work, hopefully we wake up to this soon
This is a deep and complicated issue, but I've definitely covered as much as possible here
If you have any further question feel free to reply to this or message me
As always thanks for reading
If you have any further question feel free to reply to this or message me
As always thanks for reading
