Deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) is a nucleotide used in cells for DNA synthesis (or replication), as a substrate of DNA polymerase. Deoxyadenosine triphosphate is produced from DNA by the action of nuclease P1, adenylate kinase, and pyruvate kinase.

Health effects

High levels of dATP can be toxic and result in impaired immune function, since dATP acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor for the DNA synthesis enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. Patients with adenosine deaminase-deaminase) deficiency (ADA) tend to have elevated intracellular dATP concentrations because adenosine deaminase normally curbs adenosine levels by converting it into inosine. Deficiency of this deaminase also causes immunodeficiency. In cardiac myosin, dATP is an alternative to ATP as an energy substrate for facilitating cross-bridge formation.