Biochemistry · Molecule
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) !
ATP is the cell's energy currency: giving up its last phosphate pays for movement, transport and building.
Updated 2026-10-31
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Key facts
- Adenine + ribose + three phosphates; the useful energy lies in the anhydride bonds between the phosphates.
- Its hydrolysis to ADP releases about 30.5 kJ/mol under standard conditions (more inside the cell).
- Glycolysis leaves a net 2 ATP per glucose; complete oxidation with oxygen about 30–32.
- In the cell it is almost always bound to Mg²⁺: kinases use Mg-ATP.
- Formula
- C₁₀H₁₆N₅O₁₃P₃
- PubChem
- CID 5957
Structure
- The phosphates are named α, β and γ from the ribose; kinases transfer the γ one.
Clinical notes
- A person recycles roughly their body weight in ATP each day; almost none is stored.
- Without ATP the Na⁺/K⁺ pump fails: the cell swells (the cellular edema of ischemia).
Pathways
Related conditions
Related
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which glycolysis steps make ATP?
Step 7 (phosphoglycerate kinase) and step 10 (pyruvate kinase), by substrate-level phosphorylation.
Which ion goes with ATP in kinase reactions?
Magnesium (Mg²⁺); the true substrate is the Mg-ATP complex.
Which phosphate of ATP do kinases transfer?
The γ phosphate (farthest from the ribose).
Molecules are shown in their neutral form, as the databases deposit them; in the cell the acids and phosphates are ionised.
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Sources: Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (CID 5957) (PubChem, NCBI, 2026) · Public domain; ATP (CHEBI:15422) (ChEBI, EMBL-EBI, 2026) · CC BY 4.0; Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students, 6th ed. (Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (Vasudevan DM, Sreekumari S, Vaidyanathan K), 2011).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.