Which term describes a nucleotide that serves as an energy storage molecule?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the term that refers to a nucleotide that acts as an energy storage molecule. It is composed of three phosphate groups, a ribose sugar, and an adenine base. The high-energy bonds between the phosphate groups in ATP are crucial because when these bonds are broken, energy is released, which can then be used by cells to perform various functions, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and biochemical reactions.

In contrast, ribose is merely a sugar component of RNA and ATP, but it does not function as an energy molecule on its own. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic material that stores and transmits genetic information, and while its structure includes nucleotides, it does not serve the role of energy storage directly. RNA is a nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis and also does not primarily function as an energy storage molecule like ATP. Thus, ATP stands out as the critically important nucleotide for cellular energy transfer and metabolism.