What is the compound that is phosphorylated for ATP formation? What is the resulting compound when ATP liberates energy?
ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is formed after the binding of one phosphate (phosphorylation) to one ADP (adenosine diphosphate) molecule. This is a process that stores energy into the produced ATP molecule. When ATP gives energy to the cellular metabolism it loses one of its phosphates and ADP reappears. ADP can also lose more phosphates and generate AMP (adenosine monophosphate) or even non- phosphorylated adenosine. Adenosine production from ATP is a solution used in tissues that need urgent oxygen supply, for example, in the heart during myocardial infarction (heart attack), since adenosine has a local vasodilator effect thus providing faster vasodilation than other physiological methods.
