diphosphate

[ dahy-fos-feyt ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a pyrophosphate.
2. a phosphate containing two phosphate groups.

Word History and Origins

Origin of diphosphate¹

First recorded in 1820–30; di- ¹ + phosphate

Example Sentences

When an ATP molecule is used, it is stripped of one of its phosphate groups, creating adenosine diphosphate, or ADP.

From Science Magazine

Antagonism screen for inhibitors of bacterial cell wall biogenesis uncovers an inhibitor of undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase.

From Nature

So another cycle takes place — a cycle within a cycle: a molecule of ATP gives up one of its phosphate groups and retains only two, becoming a diphosphate molecule, ADP.

From Literature

We report that the tetratricopeptide-repeat domain of O-GlcNAc transferase binds the carboxyl-terminal portion of an HCF-1 proteolytic repeat such that the cleavage region lies in the glycosyltransferase active site above uridine diphosphate–GlcNAc.

From Science Magazine

DMAPP, dimethylallyl diphosphate; FPP, farnesyl diphosphate; IPP, isopentenyl diphosphate. tHMG1 encodes truncated HMG-CoA reductase.

From Nature