Question

How would you describe the structure and function of ATP?

Answer 1

ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate which is an organic compound that helps in providing energy to the living cells and is involved in various metabolic processes.

Complete answer:
ATP can be described as the energy-storing molecules produced in mitochondria. These molecules are also termed as the "powerhouse of the cell". These molecules function as the energy currency for the cells. It plays a vital role in storing energy and transporting it within the cell to support the bodily chemical reactions and activities.
In the centre of ATP, a molecule of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is present which comprises an adenine molecule bonded to a ribose molecule and a single phosphate group. Ribose can be defined as a five-carbon sugar that can be observed in RNA, and AMP is a nucleotide that can be observed in RNA. The addition of a second phosphate group and third phosphate group to AMP leads to the formation of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) respectively.
Energy is required for the addition of a phosphate group to a molecule. Phosphate groups are negatively charged in nature. When they are arranged in ADP and ATP they repel each other which cause the instability of ADP and ATP molecules. Thus, the release of one or two phosphate groups from ATP takes place and the process is termed dephosphorylation, which functions in the release of energy.

Note:
The structure of ATP is similar to that of RNA. Karl Lohmann in 1929 discovered Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) from the muscles. ATP is observed to be highly soluble in water and solutions with pH 6.8 and 7.4 but gets rapidly hydrolysed in solutions with extreme pH level.