Guanosine triphosphate

Definition

Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) is a nucleotide that serves as an energy source in metabolic processes. It is also involved in signal transduction and protein synthesis.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. GTP is crucial for the function of G-proteins, which are involved in transmitting signals from outside the cell to the inside.
2. It plays an essential role in protein synthesis by providing energy for the elongation phase of translation.
3. Some antimicrobial drugs target pathways involving GTP to disrupt bacterial processes.
4. GTP is converted to GDP (guanosine diphosphate) after energy release, which can be further recycled back to GTP.
5. In addition to its role in metabolism, GTP regulates various cellular activities such as microtubule polymerization.

Review Questions

• What role does GTP play in protein synthesis?
• How do some antimicrobial drugs utilize GTP pathways to exert their effects?
• Describe how GTP functions within signal transduction.

Related terms

GDP: Guanosine diphosphate, a product formed when GTP loses one phosphate group.

ATP: Adenosine triphosphate, another nucleotide that serves as a primary energy carrier in cells.

Signal Transduction: The process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events.