Phosphorus (P) like calcium serves many roles in the biochemical reactions of cells and has a critical role in bone as part of the mineral complex hydroxyapatite.
Phosphorus is an essential component of ATP, the universal energy source for all cells.
As a component of ATP, phosphorus is critical for cellular energy metabolism.
As part of ATP, phosphorus enables food energy to be converted into chemical energy through oxidative phosphorylation.
Likewise like energy is converted into chemical energy during photophosphorylation in photosynthesis, and into chemical energy to be extracted during respiration.
Phosphorus forms weaker bonds than other available elements, and it can also from double bonds and bonds with more than four covalent linkages.
ATP can be considered as the circulating currency of energy in living organism.
An active cell requires million of molecules of ATP per second to drive its biochemical reactions. ATP is used for the synthesis of long term energy storage compounds.
Plant cells synthesis starch and fats while animal cells synthesis glycogen. For synthesis of peptide bonds, the cells use guanosine triphosphate (GTP) as energy donor.
Component of ATP – Phosphorus
