Mechanisms of hydrolysis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, and inorganic pyrophosphate in aqueous perchloric acid

Abstract

The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of ATP gives rise both to ADP and inorganic phosphate Pi and to AMP and PPi. Kinetic and isotope studies on the mechanism of hydrolysis of ATP therefore depend on a knowledge of the mechanism of hydrolysis of the polyphosphate products, ADP and PPi. The latter reactions were studied over the acidity range 1-5 M perchloric acid at 25.degree. C while the more complex problem of the hydrolysis of ATP was followed at a single acidity (3 M perchloric acid). The positions of bond fission were determined for both ATP and ADP.