Atp is adenosine triphosphate! This means an adenosine molecule (a nitrogenous base) bonded to 3 phosphate molecules and a 5 carbon sugar. The significance is that it is the energy currency of cell and for the whole body on a macroscale! So you need atp to do everything...even reading this right now!!! hydrolyzing it releases energy from the phosphate bonds that is used by the cell to do its work! So simply break apart atp molecules to get energy to do work!!!