ATP
Adenosine Triphosphate
| Adenosine Triphosphate |
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| 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 synthesised in the Mitochondria of a cell, in a process called oxidative phosphorylation, in what is called the electron transfer chain. ATP is a very important source of energy for many functions. An example is it's usage in glycolysis, where glucose is converted to pyruvate. The molecular structure of ATP constists of three phosphate groups linked to an adenisine core.
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.
References
Stryer et al, 2006, Biochemistry, 5th edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.