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AAT Bioquest

Is the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP reversible?

Posted May 9, 2023


Answer

Yes, the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP is reversible. 

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is made up of 3 phosphate groups that are linked to each other by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds. During hydrolysis – a water-mediated breakdown reaction - one phosphoanhydride bond is broken, releasing one phosphate group and leaving behind a molecule of AMP (adenosine diphosphate), which is made up of 2 phosphate groups. 

The reverse reaction adds a phosphate group back to AMP and regenerates ATP. 

Additional resources

ATP hydrolysis in ATP synthases can be differently coupled to proton transport and modulated by ADP and phosphate: a structure based model of the mechanism

PhosphoWorks™ Luminometric ATP Assay Kit *DTT-Free*

PhosphoWorks™ Fluorimetric ADP Assay Kit *Red Fluorescence*