Why is atp called the energy currency of cells

ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is often called the energy currency of cells because cells use it to couple energy-releasing processes to energy-requiring work. ATP transfers usable chemical energy through reactions involving its phosphate groups.

How it works

Cells regenerate ATP from ADP and phosphate using energy obtained from processes such as cellular respiration or photosynthesis. ATP is continually made and used; it is not a long-term energy store comparable to fat or starch.

Example or application

ATP use can help drive active transport across membranes, movement by motor proteins, and the synthesis of molecules. In each case, ATP hydrolysis is coupled to a cellular process through enzymes.

Scope and limits

The phrase “energy currency” is an analogy. ATP does not contain a special kind of energy, and the cell’s energy transformations follow ordinary chemical principles.

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