In cellular respiration, the energy stored in the covalent bonds of glucose is ultimately used to produce which molecule that serves as the main energy currency of the cell?

• A. ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
• B. Cholesterol
• C. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
• D. NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form)

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of cellular respiration: Cellular respiration is a metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to produce energy. It consists of three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation.
2. Identify the main energy currency of the cell: The molecule that stores and transfers energy for cellular processes is ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is synthesized during cellular respiration.
3. Examine the role of glucose: Glucose is a six-carbon sugar whose covalent bonds store chemical energy. During cellular respiration, glucose is oxidized to release this energy, which is then used to produce ATP.
4. Clarify the roles of other molecules: Cholesterol is a lipid involved in membrane structure and signaling, not energy storage. DNA is the genetic material of the cell, and NADH is an electron carrier that helps transfer energy during respiration but is not the main energy currency.
5. Conclude that ATP is the correct answer: ATP is the molecule produced during cellular respiration that serves as the primary energy currency of the cell, enabling various biological processes.