ATP is a nucleotide consisting of an adenine base attached to a ribose sugar, which is attached to three phosphate groups. These three phosphate groups are linked to one another by two high-energy bonds called phosphoanhydride bonds.

Is ATP a nucleotide or nucleic acid?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleic acid molecule that remains a single nucleotide. Unlike a DNA or RNA nucleotide, the ATP nucleotide has three phosphate groups attached to its ribose sugar. All living beings run their cells on ATP. The universal battery, ATP is an energy-storing molecule.

Why ATP is called a nucleotide?

The portion of the nucleotide molecule that doesn't include the phosphate group is called a nucleoside. So ATP, with three phosphate groups, is considered a nucleotide or nucleoside triphosphate.