Constructing a Model of ATP
INTRODUCTION
Energy within a cell exists in the form of chemical energy. A source of this chemical energy is a
compound called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP, when changed to a compound called
adenosine diphosphate (ADP), releases energy for biological work in a cell. ADP can be
changed back into to ATP, but this reaction requires energy. During cellular respiration, energy
made available from the breakdown of glucose is used to change ADP to ATP.
In this investigation, you will
a. use materials of your choice (play-doh, molecule beads, construction paper, etc.) to
construct molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)
i. Drawings are NOT acceptable!
b. determine similarities and differences between ATP and ADP.
c. illustrate energy release when ATP is changed to ADP.
d. study the ATP-ADP cycle.
PROCEDURE
Part A: The Chemical Structure of Adenosine Triphosphate
ATP is made up of smaller molecules or subunits-ribose, adenine, and phosphate groups.
Ribose Molecule
Examine the structural formula of ribose shown below.
1. What is the simple formula of ribose? (Fill in the appropriate subscripts.) C5 H10O5
2. How does the number of hydrogen atoms compare to the number of oxygen atoms in
ribose? The number of hydrogen atoms is twice the number of oxygen atoms.
Like glucose, ribose is a carbohydrate. It is different from glucose in one very important way.
Glucose has six carbon atoms in each molecule.
3. How many carbon atoms are in ribose? Five
Adenine Molecule
Examine the structural formula of adenine.
4. What is the simple formula of adenine? (Fill in the appropriate subscripts.) C5 H5N5
5. What e lement is in adenine that is not in carbohydrates? N itrogen
a. What element is in carbohydrates that is not in adenine? O xygen
b. What name is used to describe the H-N-H group? Dihydrogen Nitride
c. Is adenine an amino acid? No, because it does not contain Oxygen.
Phosphoric Acid
Examine the structural formula of phosphoric acid. (Phosphoric acid is much like the phosphate
groups in ATP.)
6. What is the simple formula of phosphoric acid? (Fill in the appropriate subscripts.)
H3P1O4
Part B:
An ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) molecule is made up of one ribose molecule, one adenine
molecule, and three phosphate groups joined.
Your task is to design a model to demonstrate the process of releasing energy from a molecule
of ATP, then converting ADP back into ATP so that it may be used again. To do this you may
use whatever materials you choose (suggestions include play-doh, molecule beads,
construction paper, etc.), but it must be a physical model (No drawings!)
To complete the task follow the procedure below.
Molecule Key
Determine which items will represent each part of the molecule and design a key (ex. Red
play-doh = nitrogen, green play-doh = oxygen, etc.). You may use your whiteboard for this.
You may create a list or insert a picture of your key below.
Green play-doh = Phosphorus
Yellow pipe cleaner = bond between ribose and first phosphate group
Purple pipe cleaners = bonds between each phosphate group
Constructing an ATP Molecule
Construct an ATP molecule out of your materials. Be sure that all three parts are attached at
the correct place!
1. Insert a picture of your molecule below (label the 3 parts in your picture using the
whiteboard)
2. List the five building blocks that are needed to form one ATP molecule. C
, H, O, N, P
3. What is required for the chemical combination of these parts? (See INTRODUCTION.)
Energy made available from the chemical breakdown of glucose.
Gaining Energy From ATP
Show in your model how energy is released from the ATP molecule. Include a sentence or two
explaining this process.
4. Insert a picture of this process below (label the 3 parts in your picture using the
whiteboard)
5. What is the name of the new compound that was formed? A
denosine Diphosphate or
ADP
So far we have seen that ATP can be changed to ADP. This change can be written using a
type of shorthand. For example, this change may be written as follows:
6. What might the letter E in the above equation be an abbreviation for? Energy
Changing ADP to ATP
ATP can be formed within living organisms if the correct raw materials are available. These raw
materials are ADP, phosphoric acid, and energy. We can again use models to help show how
ATP is formed.
Show in your model how ADP is changed back into ATP.
7. Insert a picture of this process below (label the 3 parts in your picture using the
whiteboard).
8. Where in the cell does this process take place (Hint: which organelle is responsible for
making ATP?)? The Mitochondria
Energy is needed to change ADP back to ATP. Using a type of shorthand, this change can be
written as follows:
9. What molecule in food provides this energy? Glucose
Part C: An Energy Source for Converting ADP to ATP
From where does the energy to form ATP from ADP come? It does not come from the energy
released when ATP changes to ADP. The energy comes from a different source. Energy is
stored in all compounds. Food such as glucose contains much energy. Glucose is the major
source of energy for ATP formation. Energy is released from glucose during cellular respiration.
Examine the structural formula for glucose shown in the figure below. In cellular
respiration, glucose is broken down into two identical molecules of a chemical called
pyruvic acid. This step is called glycolysis (glyco- = glucose, -lysis = to break).
Glycolysis is the first step in cellular respiration.
The lines which connect one atom to another represent chemical bonds. (A double line ( // )
represents two bonds.)
8. Count and record the number of bonds in
a. one molecule of glucose. 24 bonds
b. two molecules of pyruvic acid. 22 bonds
NOTE: Be sure to count double lines as two bonds.
9. Is the amount of energy in one glucose molecule the same as the energy in both pyruvic
acid molecules? How do you know? No, this is because the number of bonds
present in the molecules are different.
10. How is some of this extra energy used? (Hint: See the INTRODUCTION.) T
he extra
energy is used for biological work in the cell.
Pyruvic acid is broken down further to yield more energy. Energy released from glucose during
respiration is used in building more molecules of ATP.
ANALYSIS
1. List the name and number of each molecule forming ATP.
a. Ribose (C5H10O5)- one molecule
b. Adenine (C5H5N5)- one molecule
c. Phosphoric Acid (H3P1O4)- three molecules
2. List the name and number of each molecule forming ADP.
a. Ribose (C5H10O5)- one molecule
b. Adenine (C5H5N5)- one molecule
c. Phosphoric Acid (H3P1O4)- two molecules
3. How do ADP and ATP differ in
a. number of phosphate groups? ATP has one more phosphate group than ADP
b. number of ribose molecules? They both have the same number of ribose
molecules.
c. number of adenine molecules? They both have the same number of adenine
molecules.
d. amount of potential chemical energy? ATP has more potential chemical
energy than ADP does.
4. What do you do to supply your body with the fuel it needs to change ADP back to ATP?
Consume carbohydrates to provide glucose needed to generate energy. This way
ADP can change back to ATP.
5. What process actually converts ADP back to ATP? Cellular Respiration
Changes from ATP to ADP and back again are often said to occur in a cycle. One change
follows the other in this manner:
Energy is both given off and used for work. Energy is also supplied during cellular respiration.
Complete the diagram below by writing in the words energy given off and energy supplied
from respiration in the correct spaces.
