how adenosine triphosphate is the ‘energy currency’ of cells? Is the molecule structured to trap and transfer energy or create it?

Question

how adenosine triphosphate is the ‘energy currency’ of cells? Is the molecule structured to trap and transfer energy or create it?

In: 23

Answer 1

It holds energy. When a cell turns glucose into CO2 and water, that releases energy. The cell doesn’t necessarily need that energy right then and there, so the cell takes adenosine diphosphate and adds another phosphate to it by using that energy from the sugar. This creates adenosine triphosphate, which the cell can move somewhere else to be used, at which point the cell breaks it back down into adenosine diphosphate, releasing that stored energy.