the energy-carrying molecule in living cells From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a chemical. All living things make ATP to store energy and to move it to the cells that need it.
Cells get all their energy from ATP. They break ATP molecules apart to use the stored energy. The harder a cell works, the more ATP it needs.
The ATP molecule is very versatile: it is used for many chemical reactions in the body. Energy is stored in its chemical bonds.
The energy that is stored can be used later. When ATP breaks a bond with a phosphate group and becomes ADP, energy is released. This is an exothermic reaction.
The ATP phosphate exchange is a nearly never-ending cycle, stopping only when the cell dies.
ATP is the main energy source for most cellular functions. This includes the synthesis of macromolecules. It is used in DNA and RNA. ATP also helps macromolecules get across cell membranes.
In all known organisms, DNA is made by the action of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) enzymes.[1] These enzymes reduce the sugar residue from ribose to deoxyribose by removing oxygen.[1]
ATP is one of the four nucleotides put RNA molecules by RNA polymerases. The energy driving this polymerization comes from cutting off two phosphate groups.[2] The process is similar in DNA biosynthesis.
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.