Discussion on Mechanisms of Trace Nonmetal Element in Vivo: Taking Iodine-Containing Amino Acid-Derived Hormone as Example
WANG Zhipeng A1,2,4*, MA Xin-Yu2, JIANG Zhen-Xiong3, JIANG Han-Jie4, WANG Peng5, YIN Sheng6, GOU Yun-Zi3, XU Bing7, YUAN Jin-Ying1
1.Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084,China;
2.Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States;
3.Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843,United States;
4.Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital;Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115, United States;
5.Burn Surgery, The First Affiliated Hostital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China;
6.Nutrition/Metabolism Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02138, United States;
7.Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, United States
Abstract The periodic table, as the incarnation of the periodic trends, has an instructive role in the development of modern chemistry and its relevant disciplines, such as the studies into the in vivo distribution and mechanism of long-period, nonmetal trace elements. This manuscript specifically focuses on one period 5 element, iodine, by systemically analyzing the biosynthesis and degradation of iodine-containing amino acid-derived hormones to explore the mechanism of iodine by combining methodologies from different disciplines. Through analyzing the transformation of different oxidation states and the intrinsic property of iodine as a chemical element, we reveal both the irreplaceable role of iodine in vivo, and the meticulous regulation upon the synthesis and degradation of biomolecules in nature. The combination and integration of many interdisciplinary subjects such as inorganic chemistry, element organic chemistry, coordination chemistry, enzymology, molecular biology, bioorganic chemistry, biophysics and chemical biology are intended to not only impel students to learn the intrinsic rules of biological sciences, but also to train their ability of analogy and critical thinking in order to arouse their enthusiasm towards learning and scientific research.
WANG Zhipeng A, MA Xin-Yu, JIANG Zhen-Xiong, JIANG Han-Jie, WANG Peng, YIN Sheng, GOU Yun-Zi, XU Bing, YUAN Jin-Ying. Discussion on Mechanisms of Trace Nonmetal Element in Vivo: Taking Iodine-Containing Amino Acid-Derived Hormone as Example[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Education, 2020, 41(4): 6-13.
