Editing Adenosine triphosphate (section)

== Abiogenic origins ==
Acetyl phosphate (AcP), a precursor to ATP, can readily be synthesized at modest yields from thioacetate in pH&nbsp;7 and 20&nbsp;°C and pH 8 and 50&nbsp;°C, although acetyl phosphate is less stable in warmer temperatures and alkaline conditions than in cooler and acidic to neutral conditions. It is unable to promote polymerization of ribonucleotides and amino acids and was only capable of phosphorylation of organic compounds. It was shown that it can promote aggregation and stabilization of AMP in the presence of Na<sup>+</sup>, aggregation of nucleotides could promote polymerization above 75&nbsp;°C in the absence of Na<sup>+</sup>. It is possible that polymerization promoted by AcP could occur at mineral surfaces.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Whicher |first1=Alexandra |last2=Camprubi |first2=Eloi |last3=Pinna |first3=Silvana |last4=Herschy |first4=Barry |last5=Lane |first5=Nick |date=2018-06-01 |title=Acetyl Phosphate as a Primordial Energy Currency at the Origin of Life |journal=Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres |language=en |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=159–179 |doi=10.1007/s11084-018-9555-8 |issn=1573-0875 |pmc=6061221 |pmid=29502283|bibcode=2018OLEB...48..159W }}</ref> It was shown that ADP can only be phosphorylated to ATP by AcP and other nucleoside triphosphates were not phosphorylated by AcP. This might explain why all lifeforms use ATP to drive biochemical reactions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ancient chemistry may explain why living things use ATP as the universal energy currency: An early step in metabolic evolution set the stage for emergence of ATP as the universal energy carrier |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/10/221004151228.htm |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=ScienceDaily |language=en}}</ref>