Out of The Blue Too

         The final member of our organic chemical neighborhood is that amazing capital -N- (Nitrogen). Also, a twin molecule in its natural state, (diatomic) like old capital -O-, it lives as 78% of our atmosphere and, it is about one-third abundant as our old friend capital -C- (Carbon). Out of the blue also one might say. Now, combined with the other three elements it forms ... drumroll please ... PROTEINS ...!!! Can you believe it? On average, proteins are 51% -C-, 25% -O-, 16% -N- and 7% -H-. What a deal! That final substrate to add to the family of lipids (fats) and carbohydrates (sugars).

         Well, that nitrogen molecule is the strongest among all the other family members. It shakes hands, not with two but, three hands! Never heard of such a thing. In the chemistry world it is called a triple bond. Once these proteins get-a-going, they aggregate into all kinds of shapes and sizes. The basic hookup is called a peptide link. Not able to type the way it is usually shown in the organic world, a scan of such combination follows.

        What a hoot! Link this structure together in many different forms and different shapes you get all kinds of basic building units called amino acids! Don't think I'm kidding ... here is a scan from my biochemistry text p.694 which shows this organic chemistry cookbook coming to be called amino acids... all twenty of them!

        Before that cognitive constipation starts to set in ... just take a second to view the wonders of the cookbook! All four of our elements join hands in various shapes and sizes. Pick one amino acid and find each element as it lives in the neighbor. Each has a name and unique shape. What a world the cell lives!

P.S. Scan one from chemistry reference p. 508 shown post August 7th and, scan two from biochemistry book p.694 shown September 5th post.

In 1492

         A saying from my early school days mid-1950s:

                                "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue."

         On this day October 12, 2026, a Columbus Day remembering!

        The Flagship of Columbus, the Santa Maria.

Scans from Stories Of Early American History by Wilbur F. Gordy, Charles Scriber's Sons, N.Y., 1913, p. 3 and first illustration front page.

A Welsh Proverb

                                   Love your neighbor but maintain your hedge.

 

It's Inside

         You know you're getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not for the toy inside.

A Thought for This Day

                                          Mind Over Matter ... Does It Matter?

A French Proverb for this Day

   

                                  If the young only knew; if the old only could. 

      

Out of The Blue

         Now, it should be much easier to conceptualize that Old Capital -C- (carbon) is the utility player among all the organic elements (atoms). Capital -H- (hydrogen) has only one proton to try and keep hold of its electron but, along comes old Capital -C- and grabs ahold of poor -H-, forming many links along the highways of time. As stated, long ... long ... long chains (pop beads) of hydrocarbons that end up pooled in many oil fields and, in my KY, coal fields galore! Then ... out of the blue ... comes that element of oxygen.

        Can you imagine it? Of all things, a gas it is! All around us in the air we breathe. Can't do without it for more than a couple of minutes. Say what! Let's see now.

        First of all, in its natural state, it's an identical twin! Yes sir, a diatomic (that's two atoms joined) molecule. Second of all, it is capable of combining with all other elements out there except some inert gases. What a hoot! It can reach out and touch hands with everybody (the other atoms). It is a colorless, odorless, gas and is the most abundant element in the earth's crust. Besides that, it is the third most common element in the cosmos! In our air (atmosphere) it is 20% by volume and, 21% by mass. In combined states it occurs naturally in many minerals, plants, animals and water. What a gas!!!

        Out of the blue you might say. Anyway, once capital -O- join hands with the hydrocarbons of the world, an amazing thing happens. The long ... long ... long ... H-C compounds are cut down to four to six carbons in length. Can you believe it ... carbohydrates are born! From "fats" to "sugars". How about that! A different substrate appears among the cosmos.

        Anyhow, in our biological structure, oxygen is inhaled from the atmosphere (out of the blue) and picked up and distributed to the various 100 trillion cells for their cellular activities. What a deal!