What is ATP primarily used for in the body?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is primarily recognized as the energy currency of the cell. It plays a crucial role in storing and transferring energy within cells, enabling various biological processes essential for life. When ATP is broken down through hydrolysis, it releases energy that can then be utilized for cellular activities such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and biochemical synthesis reactions.

While the other options refer to important cellular functions—such as protein synthesis, which involves building proteins from amino acids; storing genetic information, which is the role of DNA; and cellular signaling, which is mediated by various molecules including hormones and neurotransmitters—none of these functions primarily captures the role of ATP. Instead, ATP is fundamentally involved in providing the energy necessary to support these and many other physiological processes. Thus, among the choices provided, the primary use of ATP in the body is for energy storage and transfer, making it essential for sustaining life at the cellular level.