What is ATP and a DNA nucleotide and what is the difference between the two?

ATP (standing for adenosine triphosphate) and a DNA nucleotide are both examples of nucleotides. Nucleotides are the building blocks for nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. DNA nucleotides make up DNA, as shown by the name. ATP is the major energy currency in the cell and is essential in performing many bodily functions like respiration and active transportation of molecules across membranes. Despite being similar in structure, ATP and DNA nucleotides are slightly different. Both contain a pentose sugar (a sugar containing 5 carbon atoms), and a nitrogenous base. A DNA nucleotide contains the sugar deoxyribose, whereas an ATP molecule contains the sugar ribose. As for the nitrogenous base, ATP can only contain the base adenine, whereas a DNA nucleotide can have 4 different bases. Lastly, both molecules contain phosphate groups. ATP always has 3 phosphate groups (as shown by the "triphosphate" in ATP) whereas DNA only has one phosphate group.

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Answered by Danica M. Biology tutor

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