What is the role of ATP in cellular respiration?

The role of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in cellular respiration is to serve as the main energy currency of the cell. During cellular respiration, glucose and other organic molecules are broken down to release energy. This energy is stored in the form of ATP, which can then be used by the cell to power various biochemical reactions and processes essential for life.

ATP provides energy through the release of a phosphate group, which transforms it into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate. When a cell needs energy, it can quickly convert ADP back into ATP using energy from nutrients. This cycle of ATP production and usage allows cells to efficiently manage their energy needs for functions such as muscle contraction, active transport of molecules across the cell membrane, and biochemical synthesis.

The other options relate to different biological functions that do not pertain to the primary role of ATP in energy metabolism. For instance, DNA and RNA are responsible for storing genetic information, hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood, and thermoregulation is a physiological process that maintains body temperature. None of these functions reflect ATP’s central role in energy transfer within cells.