Reblogged from the-science-llama  220 notes
Posted 18, June, 2013

atomicallena:

The 10 Enzymes of Glycolysis

We’re the ten best friends that anyone could have, and we’ll never ever ever ever ever leave each other (unless something bad like denaturation happens).

Glucose, C6H12O6, can be considered as “fuel” for cells, serving as an energy (ATP) source, as seen in the equation down below. The energy from glucose can be obtained either by burning it (e.g. burning icing sugar), or through controlled oxidation reactions (glycolysis, the Krebs/TCA/citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation). 

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

The (beautifully coloured) images shown above are the majestic 10 enzymes used in glycolysis, a metabolic pathway that breaks down 1 molecule of glucose into 2 molecules of pyruvate, yielding a net production of 2 molecules of ATP (as well as 2NADH, 2H+, and 2H2O). The above photos are from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB).

From left to right, and in the order they are seen in the 10 steps of glycolysis, the enzymes are: 

  1. Hexokinase
  2. Phosphohexose isomerase
  3. Phosphofructokinase-1
  4. Aldolase
  5. Triose phosphate isomerase
  6. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
  7. Phosphoglycerate kinase
  8. Phosphoglycerate mutase
  9. Enolase
  10. Pyruvate kinase

Head on over to the RCSB PDB to read more about the structure and function of each enzyme!

Source Used: RCSB PDB. Glycolytic Enzymes. http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/101/motm.do?momID=50 (accessed June 13, 2013)

Reblogged from chickenshit  682 notes
Posted 18, June, 2013

unknowneditors:

Jordan Eagles | http://www.jordaneagles.com/

JORDAN EAGLES is a New York based artist who preserves blood to create works that evoke the connections between life, death, body, spirit, and the Universe…

Blood, procured from a slaughterhouse, is the primary medium in Eagles’ works. Through his experimental, invented process, he encases blood in plexiglass and UV resin. This preservation technique permanently retains the organic material’s natural colors, patterns, and textures. The works become relics of that which was once living, embodying transformation, regeneration, and an allegory of death to life.

Check out Unknown Editors (FB)

Reblogged from the-science-llama  2,091 notes
Posted 16, June, 2013
the-science-llama: The Root Cause of Diabetes Has Been Identified A quote from the article Fiorina and his team studied hundreds of pathways in animals with diabetes. They eventually isolated one, known as ATP/P2X7R, which triggers the T-cell attacks on the pancreas, rendering it unable to produce insulin.“By identifying the ATP/P2X7R pathway as the early mechanism in the body that fires up an alloimmune response, we found the root cause of diabetes,” says Fiorina. “With the cause identified, we can now focus on treatment options. Everything from drug therapies to transplants that require less immunosuppression is being explored.”

the-science-llama:

The Root Cause of Diabetes Has Been Identified

A quote from the article

Fiorina and his team studied hundreds of pathways in animals with diabetes. They eventually isolated one, known as ATP/P2X7R, which triggers the T-cell attacks on the pancreas, rendering it unable to produce insulin.

“By identifying the ATP/P2X7R pathway as the early mechanism in the body that fires up an alloimmune response, we found the root cause of diabetes,” says Fiorina. “With the cause identified, we can now focus on treatment options. Everything from drug therapies to transplants that require less immunosuppression is being explored.”