What is the main role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in metabolism?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) plays a crucial role in metabolism as it serves as the primary energy currency of the cell. During various metabolic processes, such as glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, energy is released from the breakdown of nutrients. ATP captures this energy and stores it in high-energy phosphate bonds. When energy is needed for cellular processes, ATP can be hydrolyzed, releasing the stored energy to power functions such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and biosynthetic reactions.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of ATP in metabolism. Oxygen transport is primarily the role of hemoglobin in red blood cells, while genetic information storage is managed by DNA. Structural support in cells is generally provided by components like the cytoskeleton and cell walls, not ATP.