In the muscles, creatine appears
as phosphocreatine, which is not incorporated into proteins, but it is involved in the synthesis of the energy - storing molecules adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and thus for providing energy to muscles [1].
Not exact matches
As you already learned earlier in this book, creatine's main action in the body is to store high - energy phosphate groups in the form of
phosphocreatine.
Muscle cells require huge amounts of this molecule known
as ATP for movement, and they make use of
phosphocreatine as an available source of energy for manufacturing ATP.
Creatine Phosphate (or
phosphocreatine, also known
as PCr) is a molecule that exists in nearly every cell in the body - its function is simple - donation of a phosphate group to ADP to re-form ATP (the universal energy currency in the body.
What's more, the
phosphocreatine system can provide energy for 15 seconds of sustained effort such
as holding a static pose and that system can be recharged by mitochondrial oxidation of fat.
Something from my experience but unconfirmed: reducing reliance on glycolysis doesn't just upregulate fat oxidation, but
phosphocreatine as well, leading to improved maximum force output manifesting in heavier one - rep maxes.
Having readily available
phosphocreatine, and thus ATP, available in your muscles translates to a very practical and desirable benefit during your workout: you're able to perform much more intense and explosive workouts, and you won't feel tired
as quickly.
Both ATP and
phosphocreatine (PC) are always sitting right there within the muscle cells, with the former providing a quick burst of energy and the latter replenishing the former
as it depletes.
When rested, before any activity, a small reserve of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), together with
phosphocreatine (PC) is available
as ATP - PC for an immediate source of energy, to use any time instantly, without oxygen, good for a maximum of 11 to 13 seconds of all out, «full effort».
Beyond this point the
phosphocreatine system still provides energy but just to a lesser degree and continues to decrease
as exercise continues.
Your Pet's Creatine Kinase Level Also Known
As CPK, CK, Creatine Phosphokinase,
Phosphocreatine Kinase Creatine and Creatinine Are Not The Same