Atp Pogil
Atp Pogil
Atp Pogil
A sporting goods store might accept a $100 bill for the purchase of a bicycle, but the corner store
will not take a $100 bill when you buy a package of gum. It is helpful to have smaller
denominations in your wallet, to make everyday transactions easier.
The same concept is true for your cells. They need energy (their “currency”) to take care of their
everyday functions, and they need currency in many denominations. The largest denominations
are the molecules in the food we eat, the source of all of our energy. These molecules are large,
and harvesting the energy they hold requires work on the part of the cell. For quick cellular
transactions, your cells store energy in the small molecule of ATP. This is the equivalent of a $1
bill for your cells’ daily activities. As with money, this energy currency can be earned, spent or
saved.
1. List the three parts of the ATP molecule and label each on the simplified molecule below.
a.
b.
c.
2. Describe how you would be able to identify each part of the ATP molecule. Give yourself
clues to identify each component.
a.
b.
c.
4. Discuss with your group what the structure of adenosine diphosphate and adenosine
monophosphate might be. Draw or describe your conclusions.
5. Model 2 illustrates a chemical reaction. Write the reaction as an equation, using the name
of each of the two reactants (input molecules) and each of the three products (outputs).
2. Does the hydrolysis of ATP release energy or require energy input to occur?
8. If ADP were to be hydrolyzed in a similar manner, would you expect energy to be released or
required? Explain your answer.
Read This!
All chemical reactions that occur in cells either require or release energy. Endergonic reactions
are those that require energy input, while exergonic reactions release energy.
10. What component of the ATP molecule is removed during these processes?
13. Use a complete sentence to describe at least two other examples of when a cell may need to
use ATP as a source of energy.
16. An analogy has been made between different dollar denominations and cellular energy
(see the Why? box at the beginning of this exercise). To continue this analogy, is the
production of ATP similar to earning, spending, or saving money? Explain your answer
in a complete sentence.
17. Is the hydrolysis of ATP endergonic or exergonic?