Which one of the following is the ‘energy currency’ for cellular

Which one of the following is the ‘energy currency’ for cellular processes?

Glucose
ATP
ADP
Pyruvic acid
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2020
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is widely considered the main energy currency of the cell. Energy released from the breakdown of fuels like glucose is used to synthesize ATP. ATP then provides the energy for most cellular processes, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and chemical synthesis, by breaking one of its phosphate bonds to form ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate, releasing energy.
– ATP is a molecule that stores and releases energy in cells.
– Energy from metabolic processes (like glucose breakdown) is stored in ATP.
– Cells directly use the energy released from the hydrolysis of ATP for their activities.
While glucose is a primary source of energy, it is metabolized through processes like glycolysis and cellular respiration to produce ATP. ADP is a lower-energy molecule produced when ATP is hydrolyzed. Pyruvic acid is an intermediate product of glycolysis. Therefore, ATP is the direct molecule that powers most cellular work.
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