In cellular respiration, glucose is broken down to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell. This process occurs in multiple steps, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. During glycolysis, one molecule of glucose is ultimately converted into two molecules of pyruvate while generating a small amount of ATP and NADH. The overall energy yield of this process is important for understanding bioenergetics. Which of the following statements best explains the role of ATP in cellular metabolism?