Nucleoside triphosphates

Nucleoside triphosphates ( NTPs ) are precursor building blocks of nucleic acids . NTPs are nucleosides (nucleosides are nucleobases that are coupled to a ribose or deoxyribose ) that are phosphorylated . Because of the phosphorylation, NTPs are also called nucleotides .

In a broader sense , the term nucleoside triphosphate and above all the associated abbreviation NTP refer to both types of nucleotides: ribonucleoside triphosphates and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates.

In a narrower sense , the term nucleoside triphosphate and, above all, the associated abbreviation NTP only refer to the ribonucleoside triphosphates. The corresponding deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates are abbreviated as dNTP.

Emergence

The deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates are formed in the cell as high-energy compounds from 2'-deoxyribonucleotide-5'-monophosphate through two successive phosphorylation steps with ATP as a phosphate group donor.

Biological importance

While the dNTPs are essentially only used in nucleic acid synthesis (e.g. DNA replication ), the ribonucleoside triphosphates serve both nucleic acid synthesis (e.g. transcription ) and the general energy balance of a living cell. The ribonucleoside triphosphate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is of the greatest importance in the energy balance .

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Compared to adenosine triphosphate, deoxy adenosine triphosphate has no hydroxyl group on the second carbon atom

Adenosine triphosphate

According to the two natural types of nucleic acids ( deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid ) there are deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) and ribonucleoside triphosphates.

Natural deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates

• Deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP)
• Deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP)
• Deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP)
• Deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP)

Natural ribonucleoside triphosphates

• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
• Cytidine triphosphate (CTP)
• Guanosine triphosphate (GTP)
• Uridine triphosphate (UTP)

Special nucleoside triphosphates

• Deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP): Use in in vitro experiments, e.g. B. PCR , site-specific mutagenesis according to Kunkel.
• Didesoxyribonukleosidtriphosphate (ddNTPs): use in DNA sequencing according to Sanger .

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• Karlson, Peter: Short textbook of biochemistry. 12th edition - Stuttgart; New York: Thieme 1984 ISBN 3-13-357812-1