Final answer:
Cells use ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as their energy currency, storing and releasing the energy needed for various metabolic processes through the phosphate bonds within the molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy currency used by cells is ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
ATP is known as the "energy currency" of the cell. It is a molecule that provides energy to fuel various cellular processes through its high-energy phosphate bonds. ATP consists of an adenosine molecule, which is a combination of adenine and ribose, and three phosphate groups, known as alpha, beta, and gamma. Energy is stored in the bonds between these phosphate groups, and when ATP is dephosphorylated to form ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate, this energy is released to power cellular functions.
Every second, a single cell utilizes and recycles approximately 10 million ATP molecules, highlighting the constant demand for this crucial source of energy within the cell.