Porphyrins are natural occurring compounds consisting of tetrapyrrolic macrocycle as shown in Figure 1.1 (A). Porphyrins are essential for living organism as they involve in various biological processes such as oxygen binding, electron transfer, biocatalysis and photochemical routes (Cragg, 2005). Metals in biological system are often bound to porphyrin forming metalloporphyrins. For example, magnesium binds to porphyrin to form chlorophyll (Figure 1.1 (B)) that plays the role as a light harvesting
Porphyrins are a family of heterocyclic macrocycles molecules derived from the porphin. These molecules are composed of four modified pyrroles units linked through a methine bridges at their α carbon. Porphyrins are widespread throughout many living organisms. Compounds such as hemoglobin, cytochromes, chlorophylls are crucial for the survival of the vast majority of organisms. Since the first synthetic path for the formation of porphyrins was reported in the 1930s by Fisher1 and Rothemund2 simultaneously
Porphyria is a hereditary disease that only requires one parent to pass it on. Porphyria consists of eight different forms, but all of them have an abnormal accumulations of porphyrins,caused by heme, a part of red blood cells that gives them their color and carries oxygen(Drugs). The irregularities of heme affect the chemical Porphyrin, which gives the disease its name. Porphyria attacks the nervous and muscular symptoms. This can cause abnormal skin reactions to sunlight, as well as seizures, nausea
tested. Carotene resulted with an Rf factor of 0.77 cm, the highest out of the pigments tested. Chlorophyll is the green pigment which also consist of two structures, a and b, it is found in the plants chloroplasts. Both chlorophyll structures have a porphyrin ring the difference is that chlorophyll a has a (-CH3) bond while chlorophyll b has a (-CH=0) bond, making b more polar. Chlorophyll was the second least polar pigment tested, its Rf factor resulted at 0.18 cm, significantly more polar than carotene
King George III “Yes, you’re mad. Bonkers, off your head… but… I’ll tell you a secret… all the best people are.” This quote from Alice in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll is an accurate depiction of the third Hanoverian king of Great Britain, King George the Third. King George III was best known for being Great Britain’s longest reigning monarch, losing the American colonies, and for going mad. There are many things that led up to George being the longest reigning monarch. George III was born
Myoglobin consist of single polypeptide chain that made up of 153 amino acid and ahs a size of 18 kDa. Its three-dimensional structure was first determined by X-ray crystallography by John Kendrew in 1957. Myoglobin is a typical globular protein in that it is a highly folded compact structure with most of the hydrophobic amino acid residues buried in the interior and many of the polar residues on the surface. X-ray crystallography revealed that the single polypeptide chain of myoglobin consist of
Overview Purpose To determine unknown contaminants in water samples during an active fish kill. Methods A combination of solid-phase extraction (SPE), LC-ion trap-MS/MS and high resolution LC-MS. Results An unknown contaminant was uniquely identified as chlorin-e6-trimethyl ester, using both LC-ion trap-MS/MS and high resolution LC-MS. Introduction On July 9, 2011, a major fish kill (fish kill I) was observed by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (OKDEQ) in the Red River, near Ketchum’s
Photosynthesis What organisms perform it? Most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria perform photosynthesis; such organisms are called photoautotrophs. What organelle is needed if it is a eukaryotic cell? The organelle needed to perform photosynthesis in a eukaryotic cell is the chloroplast. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, the primary pigment used in photosynthesis, and other molecules that function in the photosynthetic production of food. Light Reactions Where do they occur? Light reactions take
An enzyme is often known as biological catalysts. It acts a substance which speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction but remains unchanged through the process. It works by lowering the activation energy (the amount of energy required to initiate a chemical change) required for a reaction. Enzymes are proteins that are vital to the body because they act as effective catalysts and play an important role within body cells. Enzymes are proteins that are folded into a complex three-dimensional shape
Abstract The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle and the tribocarboxylic acid cycle, is the hub of the metabolic wheel. The cycle earns this phrase due its role in the oxidation of various fuel molecules i.e. its catabolic nature, and in the provision of carbon skeletons for biosynthesis or its anabolic nature. Anaplerotic reactions are imperative as they replenish the anabolic reactions to ensure the cycle’s function is maintained. The citric acid cycle‘s central role in metabolism
hydrolytic enzyme that is important in digestion. It contains a zinc ion coordinated to several amino acid residues of the protein. Another enzyme known as catalase, which is an important catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, contains iron-porphyrin complexes. In both these cases, the coordinated metal ions are most probably the sites of catalytic activity. From the research above, a conclusion can be that coordination compounds affect almost all aspects of life, from organisms to daily life
The structure of chlorophyll involves a hydrophobic tail embedded in the thylakoid membrane which repels water and a porphyrin ring which is a ring of four pyrrols (C4H5N) surrounding a metal ion which absorbs the incoming light energy, in the case of chlorophyll the metal ion is magnesium (Mg2+.) The electrons within the porphyrin ring are delocalised so the molecule has the potential to easily and quickly lose and gain electrons making the structure of chlorophyll ideal
Iron is an enigma of sorts, from constructing large buildings with it to helping the flow of oxygen through your body. Iron is a metal that provides for both the material and physical aspects in everyday life. The Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and the Capitol are only a few structures that are constructed with iron. It is widely versatile, and is one of the cheapest and strongest metals that made it indispensable during the Industrial Revolution. Not only that, but it can also be combined
been oxidized for the synthesis of ATP, similar to a catalyst's presence of some reactions. Although the mitochondrion's major purpose is to supply the cell with the much needed ATP, it has others. Included in this list are nitrogen metabolism, porphyrin synthesis and steroid hormone synthesis. III. Chloroplasts Chloroplasts are complicated green organelles that occur within the cytoplasm of plant cells. They are the main sites of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the change of light energy, CO2
Fruits have abundant vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates as well as they constitute high amounts of water making them more susceptible for microbial spoilage. The average water content in fruits is 84.9%, carbohydrates 13.2%, protein 0.88%, fat 0.53%, and ash 0.46%. Along with vitamins and other organic compounds, fruits are excellent material for microbial growth. Because the pH level of fruits is relatively low and more acidic, yeast and mold have more competitive edge than bacteria. Citrus fruit
that are stressed or ill often have red tears. What is the cause? Rodent keepers that have noticed red tears coming from the eyes of their rodents believe it to be blood. This is not the case. The red that is seen is actually a red pigment called porphyrin that is released from the Harderian gland behind the eye. This is often a sign of illness or stress in rodents and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as sneezing and nasal discharge. Rats frequently sneeze even when in perfect health so it
sulphur proteins and iron containing proteins which do not contain haem or sulphur. Haem proteins are a group of proteins which contain haem as a prosthetic group. Haem is an organic compound consisting of one ferrous (Fe2+) ion surrounded by a porphyrin ring, which consists of four pyrrole rings connected by methene bridges. The iron atom is bonded to the nitrogen atoms of the four pyrrole rings, and can also form two additional bonds, one on each side of the haem plane, called the fifth and sixth
chlorophyll, carotenoids, and phycobilins are probably the most common. There are five types of chlorophylls, chlorophyll a and b being the most important. Chlorophylls are greenish molecules that contain a ring shaped stable molecule, called a porphyrin ring, which makes electrons freely move. If they move freely the ring can gain or lose electrons, and then other molecules can be provided with energized electrons. This process is how chlorophyll captures light. Another type of pigment, Carotenoids
pigments interact with light to absorb only certain wavelengths, pigments are useful to plants and other autotrophs, which make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. (Unknown author,1997). Chlorophylls (refer to appendix) contain a porphyrin ring. This is a stable ring-shaped molecule and electrons are free to migrate.” Because the electrons move freely within the ring it is possible to gain or lose electrons easily. This is the fundamental process by which chlorophyll “a” (refer to
absorb light and carbon dioxide in the meantime. In the words of a researcher, “The initial step in photosynthesis is the absorption of light by chlorophylls attached to proteins in the thylakoid membranes. Like cytochromes, chlorophylls consist of a porphyrin ring attached to a long hydrocarbon side chain” (Lodish, Berk, and Zipursky). The main function of them is to absorb energy and transfer it to the reaction center for further photosynthesis reactions. Chlorophylls are what make plants look green