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Adenosine Triphosphate: The Power Of The Body's Cells

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The body’s cells use a special form of energy called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to power almost all their activities, such as muscle contraction and protein construction. Every cell has a small store of highly charged ATP which is located in the cytoplasm. ATP is made up of adenosine and three inorganic phosphate (Pi) groups which are bonded together in a sequence. Each of the phosphate bonds stores the energy in which the cell can use. The bond between the second and third phosphate groups contains the most accessible energy. Whenever an enzyme breaks off the third phosphate group from the second phosphate group the energy is released so the cell can use it. Usually when this happens the ATP becomes an energy deficient adenosine diphosphate

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