Adenosine monophosphate

Adenosine monophosphate, also known as 5'-adenylic acid and abbreviated AMP, is a adenine.

Production and degradation

AMP can be produced during ATP synthesis by the enzyme adenylate kinase by combining two ADP molecules:

2 ADP → ATP + AMP

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Or AMP may be produced by the high energy phosphate bond of ADP:

ADP → AMP + P_i

AMP can also be formed by hydrolysis of pyrophosphate:

ATP → AMP + PP_i

When RNA is broken down by living systems, nucleoside monophosphates, including adenosine monophosphate, are formed.

AMP can be regenerated to ATP as follows:

AMP + ATP → 2 ADP (adenylate kinase in the opposite direction)

2 ADP + 2 P_i → 2 ATP (this step is most often performed in aerobes by the oxidative phosphorylation)

AMP can be converted into IMP by the ammonia group.

In a catabolic pathway, adenosine monophosphate can be converted to uric acid, which is excreted from the body.

cAMP

AMP can also exist as a cyclic structure known as glucagon. cAMP plays an important role in intracellular signaling.

Application as a bitterness suppressor

To human tastes, the bitterness-suppressing quality of AMP interprets as food seeming 'sweeter'. This makes lower-calorie food products more palatable, making AMP potentially a lucrative solution for food manufacturers as they respond to pressure from consumers and regulators concerned about social trends towards obesity.^[1] AMP has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a 'Bitter Blocker' additive to foodstuffs.^[2]

See also

• DNA
• Oligonucleotide

References

1. ^ Nucleotide compounds that block the bitter taste of oral compositions patent by Linguagen Corp)
2. ^ Bitter Blocker Backed