Pyrophosphate

Pyrophosphate, or PP_i is an anion observed in living systems, usually formed by the hydrolysis of ATP into AMP.

• ATP → AMP + PP_i

The pyrophosphate anion has the structure P₂O₇^4-, and is an acid anhydride of phosphate. It is unstable in aqueous solution and rapidly hydrolyzes into inorganic phosphate:

• P₂O₇^4- + H₂0 → 2 HPO₄^2-

or in shorthand notation:

• PP_i + H₂0 → 2 P_i

This hydrolysis to inorganic phosphate effectively renders the hydrolysis of ATP to AMP and PP_i irreversible, and biochemical reactions coupled to this hydrolysis are irreversible as well.

From the standpoint of high energy phosphate accounting, the hydrolysis of ATP to AMP and PP_i will cost 2 high energy phosphates, as to reconstitute AMP from ATP will require 2 phosphorylation reactions.

• AMP + ATP → 2 ADP
• 2 ADP + 2 P_i → 2 ATP