Figure 21. — Alexander R. Todd (b. 1907) 

 received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 

 1957 for his research on nucleotides. He 

 determined the position of the phosphate 

 groups in the molecule and confirmed it 

 by synthesis of dinucleotide phosphates. 



Its function is connected with the transfer of hydro- 

 gen between intermediates formed through phosphate- 

 transferring enzymes. Fermentation proceeds by a 

 cascade of processes, in which phosphate groups 

 swing back and forth, and equilibria between ATP 

 with ADP play a major role. 



Main of t lie cnz\ mes arc closeK 1 elated to \ itamins. 

 Thus, cocarboxylase A, which takes part in the separa- 

 tion of carbon dioxide from an intermediate fermen- 

 tation product, is the phosphate of vitamin B,. ( )thers 

 ol the B vitamins contain phosphate groups, for 

 example those 0! the B_, and B (l group, and in B 1L ,. one 

 lonely phosphate forms a bridge in the large molecule 

 that contains one atom of cobalt: C 63 H 8 oN H 14 P Co. 

 The formation of vitamin A from carotine occurs 

 under the influence of ATP. 



The first stages in fermentation are like those in 

 respiration, which ends with carbon dioxide and 

 water. These two are the materials lor the reverse 

 process in photosynthesis. When light is absorbed 



by the chlorophyll of green plants, one of the initial 

 reactions is a transfer of hydrogen from water to a 

 triphosphopyridine nucleotide, which later acts to 

 reduce the carbon dioxide. Under the influence of 

 ATP, phosphoglyceric acid is synthesized and further 

 built up by way of carbohydrate phosphates to hexose 

 sugars and finally to starch. In many starchy fruits, 

 a small proportion of phosphate remains attached to 

 the end product. 



The synthesis of proteins is under the control of 

 deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid, abbreviated 

 by the symbols DNA and RXA. The genes in the 

 nucleus are parts of a giant DNA molecule. RXA is a 

 universal constituent of all living cells. Where protein 

 synthesis is intense, the content in RXA is high. Thus, 

 the spinning glands of silkworms are extraordinarily 

 rich in RXA. 37 



In his research on the radioactive isotope P 32 , George 

 de Hevesy gained some insight into the surprising 

 mobility of phosphates in organisms: "A phosphate 

 radical taken up with the food may first participate 

 in the phosphorylation of glucose in the intestinal 

 mucose, soon afterwards pass into the circulation 

 as free phosphate, enter a red corpuscle, become incor- 

 porated with an adenosine triphosphoric-acid mole- 

 cule, participate in a glycolytic process going on in 

 the corpuscle, return to circulation, penetrate into 

 the liver cells, participate in the formation of a phos- 

 phatide molecule, after a short interval enter the 

 circulation in this form, penetrate into the spleen, 

 and leave this organ after some time as a constituent 

 of a lymphocyte. We may meet the phosphate radical 

 again as a constituent of the plasma, from which it 

 may find its way into the skeleton." :is Much has 

 been added in the last 30 years to complete this 

 picture in many details and to extend it to other 

 biochemical processes, including even the changes of 

 the pigments in the retina in the visual process, or in 

 the conversion of chemical energy to light by bacteria 

 and insects. 



Medicines and Poisons 



In the delicate balance of these processes, disturb- 

 ances may occur which can be remedied by specific 

 phosphate-containing medicines. Thus, adenosine 

 phosphate has been recommended in cases of angina 



37 J. Brachet, Scientia, Revista di Scienza ( I960), vol. '<'<. p. 1 19. 



18 George di Hevesy, Les Prix Nobel en 1910 (Stockholm). 

 Sec also Eduard Farbkr, .Kobel Prize Winners in Chemistry, 2nd 

 ed. (New York: Schuman, 1963), p. 179. 



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HI I IK I IN 2KI: CON TRIHUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



