Nonenzymatic hydrolysis of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) at high temperatures and high pressures.

Marine organisms living in the deep sea near to hot wells show a fascinating tolerance to extremely high temperatures and pressures. Under the given conditions the synthesis and stability of biomolecules seem to be limiting facts for the basis of life. We studied the influence of high pressures and high temperatures on the hydrolysis of ATP, a universal component for the storage of energy in all known organisms and therefore an extremely interesting and important molecule. The hydrolysis of ATP, ADP and AMP was studied in unbuffered solutions at temperatures between 353 and 369 K at pH values between 3.4 and 10.0. The pressure dependence was determined to p(max) = 220 MPa also at pH 5. All data can be explained by a proton catalyzed mechanism that removes in consecutive steps the final phosphate group. In none of the experiments could pyrophosphate be detected. The influence of phosphate and magnesium ions on the hydrolysis is discussed.