This model shows the structure of ATP, a molecule that provides energy for cellular processes, including protein phosphorylation.

ATP has many important roles in the cell. A major role of ATP is to bind to and activate enzymes called kinases. Kinases catalyze the process of phosphorylation, which transfers a phosphate group from ATP to another protein. The phosphorylated protein can then carry out other cellular processes, such as cell signaling.

Some cancers are associated with mutations that cause certain kinases to be overly active. For example, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a cancer of white blood cells, is caused by an overactive tyrosine kinase called BCR-ABL. When ATP binds to and activates BCR-ABL, it signals white blood cells to divide uncontrollably. Small-molecule cancer drugs such as Gleevec (imatinib) and dasatinib, which have structures similar to that of ATP, can bind to BCR-ABL in ATP’s place and inhibit the kinase’s activity.

The 3D model can be viewed and rotated in the online 3D Viewer. The accompanying downloads provide other ways to display and interact with the model. The “3D Preview” contains an image of the model that can be viewed and rotated within Adobe Acrobat. The “3D Movie Loop” is a short looping animation that shows the model being rotated. The “3D Printing Data” STL file allows the model to be printed on a 3D printer.

Note that the STL file can be viewed with the free MakerWare software from MakerBot, but MakerWare will print only to a MakerBot printer. Please use the software provided with your 3D printer to print the STL file.