ATP
| Adenosine Triphosphate |
 |
| Adenine base (Red), Ribose (Pink), Phosphate (Blue) [1] |
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a high energy molecule that is hydrolysed to provide energy for many reactions within the mammalian body. ATP is mainly synthesised in the mitochondria of a cell, in a process called oxidative phosphorylation, via electron transfer chain. A small amount of ATP is synthesised in the cytoplasm during glycolysis. ATP is a very important source of energy for many cellular functions, including in muscle contraction, active transport and condensation reactions. The molecular structure of ATP constists of three phosphate groups linked to an adenosine core. These phosphate groups are linked in series by two phosphoanhydride bonds[2].
ATP Hydrolysis
Hydrolysing ATP to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) or further to AMP (adenosine monophosphate) releases a large amount of free energy, because the phosphoanhydride bonds in the molecule are broken [3]. ATP is, however, a very stable molecule and will only release its energy in the presence of ATPase.
References
- ↑ http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/atp/atp_text.htm
- ↑ Molecular Biology of the Cell,5th Edition, 2008 Alberts et al, page 61
- ↑ Stryer <i>et al.</i>, 2006, Biochemistry, 5th edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.