Question

Show the mechanism for the reaction of glycerol with ATP to form glycerol-3-phosphate.

Short answer

When glycerol reacts with adenosine triphosphate it produces glycerol-3-phosphate, adenosine diphosphate and a proton.

Step-by-step solution

Attack of ATP at the first phophorus

Glycerol, specifically,${\mathrm{C}}_3$ , attacks at the first phosphorus atom which forms phosphate ion with the $-{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{O}$group by losing a proton. Thus glycerol-3-phosphate is formed.

Minor products formed

When glycerol-3-phosphate is formed, one phosphate ion in ATP is lost and forms ADP, i.e. adenosine diphosphate. So the products are glycerol-3-phosphate, ADP and a proton.

The complete mechanism is shown below: