Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 7

What are high-energy phosphates? Explain the statement that “ATP is the universal energy donor.”

Step 1 of 2

The molecules which store energy in their phosphate-phosphate bonds are called high energy phosphates. In other words, the molecules which release a large amount of free energy upon hydrolysis are high energy compounds. Molecules like ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and ADP (adenosine diphosphate) store relatively high energy in the form of pyrophosphate bonds and acid anhydride bonds of phosphate derivatives.

High energy phosphates are temporary forms of stored energy. They carry energy from one reaction to another. The molecules have three main components as given below:

• A nucleotide (adenine in general, but could be any other nucleotide)

• Ribose sugar

• Phosphate linked through acid anhydride linkage (one, two, or three phosphate depending on the molecule)