Biophosphorus Chemistry

Phosphorus biochemistry is dominated by two phosphate esters, namely ATP and DNA. There are, however, many other P compounds (e.g. phosphoenzymes) which play a crucial role in metabolic processes. Phosphorus has more known biochemical functions in the body than any other single mineral element. If carbon compounds are regarded as the building blocks of life, phosphorus must surely be regarded as the site manager . Important non-bio parallels between carbon chemistry and phosphorus chemistry have been recognised in recent decades (Chapter 6). 

Metabolic processes can be defined as those processes whereby living organisms create and manufacture their own substance and obtain energy in order to function. Biophosphorus compounds are involved in most of these. 

Primary metabolic processes are those which evolve primary metabolites such as fats, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids which are common to all living species. Metabolism involves very many reaction sequences, which are frequently cyclic and interacting. These reactions are almost all enzyme-catalysed and they often employ special energy-carrying molecules. 

In most biochemical reaction sequences, organic phosphate esters are involved, either as energy carriers, as coenzymes or as intermediates. Many of these biochemical processes are common to a wide variety of life forms, although some are found only in restricted species of animals or plants. 

Essential metabolic functions of inorganic phosphates include animal bone formation, and buffering action in urine, blood and other body fluids. 

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The key role played by adenosine 5 -triphosphate (ATP) In biophosphorus chemistry has prompted numerous investigations of its mechanism of hydrolysis(JU-6), but many questions remain unanswered(2.) In principle the nonenzymatic hydrolysis of ATP can occur via four primary pathways ... 

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