ATP, the energy carrier

Both kinds of respiration release energy. Part of it is lost as heat; the rest is stored as chemical energy in a high-energy compound, adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Storing energy

ATP holds the energy released by respiration.

Releasing energy

Breaking ATP down releases the energy life processes need.

Carrying energy

It carries energy from where it is released to where it is used.

What ATP's energy is used for

Muscle movement
Active transport
Chemical reactions in living things
Building complex compounds from simple ones — amino acids into proteins
Making new cells
Some organisms making light — fireflies
Some organisms making electricity — electric eels