Guanosine triphosphate

Guanosine triphosphate (pronounced: gwa-no-seen try-fos-fate), often abbreviated as GTP, is a nucleotide used in biochemistry.

Etymology

The term "Guanosine triphosphate" is derived from the words "guanosine" and "triphosphate". "Guanosine" is a compound that consists of guanine attached to a ribose sugar molecule. "Triphosphate" refers to the three phosphate groups attached to the ribose.

Function

In the cell, GTP is used for energy, similar to how adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is used. It is also used as a source of 'high-energy' phosphate, with the energy stored in the form of high-energy phosphate bonds. GTP is essential in protein synthesis, serving as a source of energy to form peptide bonds.

Related Terms

Guanine: One of the four main nucleobases found in the nucleic acids DNA and RNA.
Nucleotide: Organic molecules that serve as the monomers, or subunits, of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.
Biochemistry: The study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms.
Adenosine triphosphate: A complex organic chemical that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells.
Protein biosynthesis: The process by which biological cells generate new proteins.