Adenosine triphosphate is known as the molecular unit of currency for intracellular transfer of energy. Adenosine triphosphate is used as a coenzyme in the cells. Adenosine triphosphate is formed as an end product in processes like cellular respiration, fermentation and photophosphorylation. A single molecule of adenosine triphosphate contains 3 phosphate groups which is formed by various enzymes like ATP synthase. Processes which use Adenosine triphosphate convert it back to its precursors which leads to its continuous recycling in organisms. Adenosine triphosphate is used by kinases which phosphorylates lipids and proteins in signal transduction pathways. Adenosine triphosphate is also used in nucleic acids for the transcription process. Adenosine triphosphate also is known to play a role of neurotransmitter for transmission of signals of taste. Adenosine triphosphate was discovered by Karl Lohmann and Cyrus Fiske independently. It was synthesized artificially by Alexander Todd.

Adenosine triphosphate contains an adenine ring and a ribose sugar with three phosphate groups. It is unstable in unbuffered water and hydrolyses into phosphate and ADP. Adenosine triphosphate is highly water soluble and stable in solutions with p H of 6.8 to 7.4 but it gets hydrolysed at higher p H levels. It is best stored as anhydrous salt form.  Adenosine triphosphate is commonly around 1-10 m M concentration inside the cells. It plays a major role in various synthesis, metabolism, cell structure, locomotion, cell signalling processes and in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Adenosine triphosphates form protein complexes and form a characteristic fold called the Rossman fold. During synthesis of nucleic acid RNA, ATP derived adenosine is incorporated into RNA molecules directly by RNA polymerases. It also plays a major role in signal transduction processes.