micans vita ebullio

Reddo

The Ribosome:

Ribosomes are complex molecular machines found in every living cell on the planet. All cellular proteins, whether enzymatic, structural, or signal transduction proteins, are synthesized by the ribosome. These magnificent machines are are key players in the translation of genetic information from nucleic acid to amino acid. Ribosomes read off genetic information from DNA by the messenger RNA or mRNA to put consituent amino acids together in the encoded order to make specific proteins. This molecular model, generated by Venki Ramakrishan, shows the different molecules that make up the ribosomal subunits. The turquoise, green, and yellow components are made up of ribosomal RNA and the purple and orange components are made up of proteins. The three triangular molecules in the center are called transfer RNAs, which are each responsible for carrying one amino acid, complimentary to the code prescribed by the mRNA. As the tRNAs leave the ribosome, their subsequent amino acids are added to the growing protein chain, ultimately creating a newly synthesized protein.

micans tela

Double-labeled Tissue Culture

Photo taken by a Nikon Eclipse inverted microscope equipped with UltraVIEW confocal imaging system

Courtesy of University of University of Kuopio

Scanning electron scan micrograph of a snowflake.

thanks to Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

"scientia is, as a matter of fact, the latin word for knowledge. and knowledge can indeed, be very beautiful."

a decorus motus

the Rossmann Fold is a tertiary structure binding motif consisting of three or more parallel beta strands and two alpha helices; it is involved in nucleotide binding. in 1973, Michael Rossman, Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, published his description of the motif which he found in enzymes such as dehydrogenases and kinases that bind to molecules such as adenine triphosphate or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [1]. the beauty of this structural motif not only lies in its vital functionality, without it the TCA cycle would fail to succeed, but within its charismatic and aesthetic backbone structure.

i thought to introduce this blog with the Rossmann Fold, because it is indeed a beautiful motif. it exists in every living organism, and it functions by helping to orchestrate the transformation of cellular energy. i decided to write this blog to explore the ability to look at the universe and the natural world through the eyes of an artist. to, if anything, solely appreciate the beauty and complexity of the molecules that keep our earth alive. the beauty of science not only lies within advances in medicine, space travel, or computer science... nor does it only lie within the scientific method, laboratory results, or mathematical equations... it lies within matter itself, within each and every organism and within the inorganic collisions that have synthesized our universe-- the beauty of scientific inquiry extends beyond that of our mental and creative capacity-- it exists and changes, with or without human interference.

1. Rao S, Rossmann M (1973). "Comparison of super-secondary structures in proteins". J Mol Biol 76 (2): 241–56.