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

ATP stores in the cell aren’t enough to last the cell very long- it handles long-term energy storage differently. ATP is a useful energy transfer molecule because it’s moderately stable and moderately energetic. It’s not too hard for the cell to break the ATP energy-holding bonds, but it won’t go off on its own either. It holds enough energy to be useful, but it won’t like blow up the cell either. It’s a nice predictable Goldilocks system to carry the energy for one* chemical reaction or movement at a time.