The phosphoanhydride bond: one cornerstone of life

摘要

Phosphorus, the second element of the fth group of the periodic table, is heavily embroiled in theenergy metabolism of living beings. This element, together with oxygen, forms phosphoanhydridebonds, one of the most energy-rich linkages in biomolecules. The most well-known occurrence ofthese bonds is within the triphosphate chain of ATP. More recently, besides ATP, increasing attentionhas been paid to a much more energy-rich molecule, consisting of long chains of phosphate units.This inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) acts as an energy storage and donor in prokaryotes andhigher eukaryotes (animals and humans), particularly within the extracellular space. It turns outthat this unique biopolymer, prepared in a bioinspired way, has great potential for regenerative medicine applications.