Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
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Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is an organic molecule that stores and releases energy for use in celullar processes. It is the chief source of energy in skeletal muscle and fuels all human movement.
A molecule of ATP consist of adenosine (adenine plus ribose) and three phosphates. This molecule is unstable since all three phosphates are negatively charged, thus repelling one another. When one phosphate groups is removed by hydrolosis, a more stable molecule, adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Like all such changes from unstable to stable configurations, this results in the release of energy. This energy is used to fuel cellular work.
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This page created 06 Sep 2011 14:30
Last updated 18 Sep 2011 04:06
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