nucleotide A nucleotide consists of a nitrogen-containing base, a five-carbon sugar, and one or more phosphate groups. Nucleotides can carry chemical energy (e.g. ATP), form coenzymes (e.g. CoA), be used as specific signaling molecules (e.g. cAMP) in the cell. Nucleotides are the subunits of the nucleic acids. A nucleotide is a nucleoside phosphate resulting from the condensation of the 3 or 5 hydroxy group of a nucleoside with phosphoric acid. IMR:0001349 organic molecule glycoside