Structure of Adenosine Di- and Tri-Phosphate

Abstract

DEFINITE proof of the constitution of adenosine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate, desirable because of its significance both for the structure of the co-dehydrogenases and of the intrinsic interest of the adenosine polyphosphates, has not hitherto been presented. The usual formulation of adenosine triphosphate as adenosine 5′-triphosphate (I) (Lohmann¹) is in doubt only as regards the mode of attachment of the labile phosphoryl groups to the 5′-phosphoribofuranoside residue; the formation of muscle adenylic acid (adenosine 5′-phosphate) on hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate and of inosine triphosphate by deamination virtually excludes the location of these phosphoryl groups elsewhere in the molecule.