Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Do you want to breathe?

     Does everyone like to breathe? Of course they do! Well, then everyone should love this protein. How is this protein important? Well, in order for there to be enough oxygen for everyone, plants, algae and bacteria need to be able to have oxygen evolving complexes, which break down water to form oxygen. However, for this to occur, there needs to be chlorophyll molecules to absorb photons. This is where this protein is important. It catalyzes the determining step in the production of chlorophyll. What happens is that there is a double bond in a molecule called protochlorophyllide. Once reduced to a single bond, the molecule is chlorophyllide, which is the direct precursor of chlorophyll. This is only the light-independent version of the protein. There is also a light-dependent version found in angiosperms (flowering plants) which requires light and light reactions to function.

                                          Chlorophyll
                                          Picture provided by http://www.secchidipin.org/chlorophyll.htm

  To put this all into perspective, most life could not occur without this protein. All of the reactions that occur in the membranes of chloroplasts could not occur. And as the light reactions of photosynthesis could not occur, ATP could not be made to power the Calvin-Benson Cycle. This means that CO2 could not be fixed by RuBisCO and sugars could not be made. This means that animals (including humans) would not have food. So next time you take a breath, eat some delicious food or even walk by a tree, remember to be thankful for light-independent protochlorophyllide reductase.
                                                          
                             Picture provided by http://www.co.marshall.ia.us/zenphoto/conservation/forest+floor.JPG.php

                     

4 comments:

  1. I really like the image of your protein structure! Is there anyway that you could enlarge the second image though? It's kind of hard to read. Your blog looks great!

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  2. Could you perhaps move the picture of the reaction this enzyme catalyzes under the paragraph where you discuss it in words? It's easier to visualize that way (: And if that pic could be enlarged too...other than those two things good work!

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  3. Well you convinced me that a world without light independent protochlorophyllide reductase would be terrible. Two thoughts: 1)when you mention the name at the end is it okay to omit reductase (that seems important since it is the generic function) and 2)like Lindsay said your picture placement could be improved. Either move the two at the end up so they don't look tacked on at the end or maybe add a caption so we have something to read with them.

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  4. Great description of why we need this protein around! The last image is difficult to read, increases it's size if possible.

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