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Multiple Choice
In the context of nucleic acids, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is best classified as which type of molecule?
A
A deoxyribonucleoside monophosphate used directly to build DNA
B
A ribonucleotide triphosphate (a nucleoside triphosphate)
C
A fatty acyl-CoA thioester used for beta-oxidation
D
A peptide-bonded trimer of amino acids
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the structure of ATP. ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, which consists of the nitrogenous base adenine, the sugar ribose, and three phosphate groups attached in a chain.
Step 2: Recognize that ATP contains ribose as its sugar, not deoxyribose. This means ATP is a ribonucleotide, not a deoxyribonucleotide.
Step 3: Note that ATP has three phosphate groups, making it a nucleoside triphosphate rather than a monophosphate or diphosphate.
Step 4: Recall that nucleoside triphosphates like ATP serve as building blocks for RNA synthesis and as energy carriers in the cell, distinguishing them from fatty acyl-CoA thioesters or peptides.
Step 5: Conclude that ATP is best classified as a ribonucleotide triphosphate (a nucleoside triphosphate), which aligns with its structure and biological role.