Adenosine Tri-phosphate

ATP (Adenosine Tri-phosphate) is the energy from the group consisting of adenine bound to 3 phosphate groups obtained by the metabolic processes of living things.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the nucleotide known in biochemistry as the "molecular currency" of intracellular energy transfer; that is, ATP can be used to store and transport chemical energy within cells. ATP also plays an important role in the synthesis of nucleic acids. ATP molecule is also used to store the energy plants in cellular respiration. ATP that are beyond the cytoplasm or outside the cell can function as signaling agents that affect growth and response to environmental changes.

Chemical Composition

ATP consists of adenosine and three phosphate groups. C10H16N5O13P3 empirical formula, and its chemical formula is C10H8N4O2NH2 (OH) 2 (PO3H) 3H, with a molecular weight of 507 184 u. Phosphoryl group of AMP is called the alpha, beta, and gamma-phosphate.

ATP in the human body

The total number of ATP in the human body is about 0.1 mol. The energy used by human cells to carry out the hydrolysis can be numbered 200 to 300 moles of ATP per day. This means that each ATP molecule is recycled as much as 2000 to 3000 times per day. ATP can not be stored, hence its synthesis must closely follow its consumption.

Other triphosphate

Cells also have high energy nucleoside triphosphates others, such as GTP. Energy can be easily transferred between triphosphate-triphosphate with ATP via the reaction catalyzed by nucleoside diphosphokinase: Energy is released when hydrolysis of the bonds of high-energy phosphate. This energy can be used by a variety of enzymes, protein motors, and transport proteins to carry out the cell. Also, the hydrolysis will release inorganic phosphate and ADP, which can be broken down further to another phosphate ion and AMP. ATP can also be directly broken down to adenosine monophosphate and pyrophosphate.

Reaction of ADP with GTP

ADP + GTP \ to ATP + GDP
Lately a lot of talk about the possibility of using ATP as an energy source for nanotechnology and implants so that equipment such as artificial pacemakers no longer require a battery.

Role of biochemistry and physiology

Role of ATP the most recognizable person is as an energy carrier, in the form of a mixed up as ATP and ADP. This function takes place in various cell compartments, but most occur in the cytosol (the space inside the viscous fluid-filled cytoplasm). As an energy carrier, ATP is also often found in mitochondria.

ATP and other nucleoside triphosphate can take place outside the cell, occupying the extracellular matrix. Here they act as signaling agents that respond to environmental change or disturbance from other organisms for later captured by receptors on the cell membrane. This mechanism has not been much studied and is known to occur in animals and, apparently, also in plants.