In Chapter 1, page 7, Dr. Moalem introduces a protein called Chelators. These proteins, when the body has a bacterial infection, attach to iron in the bloodstream to prevent bacteria from attaching onto the iron. The reason bacteria would attach to iron , as mentioned on page 6, is because iron is a great nutrient to bacterial growth. Therefore, Chelators are a very important protein in relation to the body responding to external diseases and infections. This important task can be related to Big Idea 4: that biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties. Chelators relate to Big Idea 4 in that they interact with the body's immune system in order to compromise the growth of bacteria.
However, Dr. Moalem does not go into detail about Chelators. Are there any diseases that cause overproduction or underproduction of Chelators in the body? If so, how is the person affected? How exactly do Chelators attach to iron? Do Chelators attach to atoms of iron or groups of iron? Which chromosome is responsible for the production of Chelators and what is the protein's locus? What allows for Chelators to attach to only iron and not any other molecule? Does cancer affect the molecular composition or function of Chelators? If so, what would be some effects that one would experience? When are Chelators produced most or least during the lifetime of a human being? Lastly, what are the names of some popular medications that produce Chelators for those who cannot produce Chelators themselves?
~Anzori Kuchaidze (akuchai3@students.d125.org)
On page 7, Moalem describes how human body needs iron to survive but iron can be a "deadly liability" when bacterias use iron.Iron ions have six electrochemical coordination sites. A chelator molecule that binds to these sites to completely inactivates the free iron so bacterias can't use the inactivated irons. This is the same concept of how antibodies attach to pathogen to make the pathogen inactivated by making the pathogen unable to go into a host cell and spread. This relates to the big idea 4, because chelators interact with irons to protect ourselves to be able to be alive and grow against diseases.
ReplyDeleteThe chromosome and the protein's locus are chromosome 22 and 7q31.2 respectively and Chelators binding sites allow the chelators to attach only to irons. Chelators are produced the most around teenage age then as one gets to around an age of 60, the production of chelators decline leading elders to be more vulnerable to disease. ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and edetate sodium are some popular medication for chelators.
Chelation therapy is common where diseases affect chelators production, decreasing chelator proteins in body. These diseases include heart disease, cancer, and heavy lead poisoning. Overall these diseases make people less protective against pathogens that are seeking to use iron.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130116163538.htm
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=jeremy-piven-mercury-poisoning
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v298/n5873/pdf/298478a0.pdf
woosik choi - (wchoi3@students.d125.org)