The common sugar used by cells to produce ATP is glucose.
Glucose is a simple sugar that serves as a primary energy source for our cells. When glucose enters the cell, it undergoes various metabolic processes, most notably glycolysis, where it is broken down into pyruvate. This process not only generates small amounts of ATP but also leads to the production of electron carriers like NADH.
Subsequently, pyruvate can enter the mitochondria to undergo further oxidation in the Krebs cycle, ultimately leading to the generation of a substantial amount of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, glucose is essential for cellular respiration, playing a crucial role in the energy economy of the cell.