adenosine triphosphate

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adenosine triphosphate (ATP) A high-energy phosphoric ester, or nucleotide, of the nucleoside adenosine which functions as the principal energy-carrying compound in the cells of all living organisms. Its hydrolysis to ADP and inorganic phosphate is accompanied by the release of a relatively large amount of free energy (34 kJ/mol at pH 7) which is used to drive many metabolic functions.

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