Cosmetics Ingredient Dictionary

adenosine triphosphate. Organic compound of adenosine that is formed by hydrolysis of yeast nucleic acids. All living things need a continual supply of energy to function. Animals obtain energy by oxidizing foods, plants obtain energy by chlorophyll’s interaction with sunlight. However, before the energy can be used, it must first be changed into a form that the organism can readily use. This special form, or carrier, of energy is the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In humans, ATP is the major energy source within the cell that drives a number of biological processes such as protein synthesis. The cell breaks down ATP by hydrolysis to yield adenosine diphosphate (ADP), which is then further broken down to yield adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Research into topically applied adenosine triphosphate is just beginning, but it appears to have strong potential as a cell-communicating ingredient and as an inflammation modulator (Sources: The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, volume 124, issue 4, April 2005, pages 756–763; and Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, volume 8, issue 2, March–April 2004, pages 90–96). See cell-communicating ingredients.