ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate

Adenine base (Red), Ribose (Pink), Phosphate (Blue)

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. Other cellular uses of ATP are included in muscle contraction, active transport and condensation reactions. The molecular structure of ATP constists of three phosphate groups linked to an adenisine core. These phosphate groups are linked in series by two phosphoanhydride bonds.

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 . ATP is, however, a very stable molecule and will only release its energy in the presence of ATPase.