ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the energy
responsible in powering the processes of cells. It can be stored and used for
reactions required by cells at any given time. It consists of an adenine base attached to a
ribose sugar attached to three groups of phosphates that are closely linked to
one another through phosphoanhydride bonds.
When a phosphate group is removed from an ATP
molecule, the process is called Hydrolysis. During the process of hydrolysis, a phosphoanhydride
bond is broken and ATP is converted to an ADP (adenosine diphosphate) molecule.
When another bond is broken ADP will be converted into AMP (adenosine monophosphate).
These three types of energies are constantly interconverted inside the cell
depending on the demands of the cells’ processes.
