Scurvy
and
the synthesis of Ascorbic acid
(vitamin
C)
Johnstone
© 2005
Directions
This file displays molecules in the left part of the screen..
Use the controls below to cycle through the molecular sequence
used to synthesize vitamin C
To investigate the structure of the individual molecules press
the button next to the name of that molecule:
To
reset the starting molecular sequence, use the reset button:
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Pick from the
molecules below:
Glucose
Using
an oxidizing enzyme to add an "O" and remove two "H's."
The molecule is first highlighted to show the C atom and two H atoms
involved.
Glucuronic Acid
The molecule is first shown with the substituted O and connecting
C atoms from the first reaction highlighted, then the C,H & O
atoms where the next reaction will occur. This involves a reducing
enzyme to add Hydrogens.
Gulonic Acid
After re-capping the changes completed in the previous step, the
C atoms involved in the third part of the process are shown. Here
a lactonose enzyme is used to change the shape of the molecule from
a chain to a branched ring, while H2O is removed.
Gulonolactone
The active C molecules from the previous step are highlighted, followed
by the location of the two H atoms which are removed with the use
of a gunolactone oxidizing enzyme.
This is the piece that we humans have lost the ability to complete!
Ascorbic Acid
Completion of the four step process with the synthesis of ascorbic
acid (Vitamin "C") The location of the two "lost"
Hydrogen atoms and Carbon atoms are shown. The covalent bond between
these C atoms is converted from single to double electron pair sharing.
Begin molecular transition
sequence
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