1. Adenine: A nitrogenous base that forms part of the nucleotide structure.
2. Ribose: A five-carbon sugar molecule, also part of the nucleotide structure.
3. Triphosphate Group: This is the defining feature of ATP. It consists of three phosphate groups linked together in a chain.
The phosphate groups are key to ATP's function as an energy carrier. The bonds between these phosphate groups are high-energy bonds. When one of these bonds is broken (usually the bond between the second and third phosphate group), energy is released and the molecule becomes ADP (adenosine diphosphate). This energy can then be used by the cell to perform various tasks, like muscle contraction, protein synthesis, or active transport.
