An ATP molecule consists of three main parts: a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and three phosphate groups.
The nitrogenous base in ATP is adenine, which is a key component that plays a vital role in the energy transfer processes within cells. The sugar in ATP is ribose, a five-carbon sugar that forms the backbone of the molecule. The three phosphate groups are linked together by high-energy bonds, and it is these bonds that store and release energy when they are broken during various biochemical reactions.
When one of the phosphate groups is cleaved off (usually the third one), ATP is transformed into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and an inorganic phosphate. This reaction releases energy, which the cell can use for various processes such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and biosynthesis, making ATP an essential molecule in cellular metabolism.