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Synthesis of Adenosine Triphosphate

Abstract

SINCE its isolation from muscle extracts in 19291, adenosine triphosphate has been the object of much biochemical interest. It plays a fundamental part in many biological processes, and it has found application in recent years in clinical medicine. On the basis of titration and other evidence, Lohmann2 allotted to adenosine triphosphate the structure (I), in which it is formulated as adenosine-5'-triphosphate. Chemical evidence providing strong support for this structure has since been provided by Lythgoe and Todd3, who showed that adenosine triphosphate, like muscle adenylic acid (adenosine-5'-phosphate) and adenosine, consumes 1 mol. sodium metaperiodate on titration with this reagent, whereas yeast adenylic acid (adenosine-3'-phosphate) is unaffected under similar conditions.

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References

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BADDILEY, J., MICHELSON, A. & TODD, A. Synthesis of Adenosine Triphosphate. Nature 161, 761–762 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/161761a0

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