The importance of nitrogen containing compounds in biological systems
Many compounds derive from nitrogen which is a vital element as it is used for many molecules which
can build proteins which can build tissues can organs. Without nitrogen, there would be no life on earth
as Nitrogen is needed to help all organisms grow. There are just a few elements that are crucial to living
organisms such as hydrogen carbon oxygen and nitrogen. They are contained in amino acids which are
building blocks for all organisms, (potassium chlorine etc)
Nitrates contains nitrogen which is vital for the growth of plants. Nitrogen fixating bacteria fixes nitrogen
gas from the air into the soil to create ammonium compounds and saprobiants break down proteins
from decaying matter to create ammonium compounds in the soil. Nitrifying bacteria oxidises
ammonium compounds into nitrites then into nitrates. The roots of the plant can then actively transport
nitrates into the plant and use the nitrates to make proteins. This shows the importance of nitrogen
containing compounds, because if there were no nitrogen then no ammonium compounds wouldn’t be
created so no ammonium compounds are oxidised into nitrites then nitrates so no nitrates is available
for the plant to grow. Naming bacterial species that are involved in he nitrogen cycle. SUCH AS
NITROSOMONAS
Talking about chemistry such as what is ammonia
Nitrogen is needed to make proteins (nitrogen group in the amino acid and they make up every protein
such as enzymes.) enzymes such as amylase and maltase. Salivary amylase hydrolyse starch into
maltose. The stomach acid would then denature the salivary amylase therefore, amylase is produced in
the pancreas to hydrolyse any starch present in the stomach into maltose. In the smooth lining of the
epithelial of the intestine, maltase hydrolyse maltose into glucose. This shows the importance of
nitrogen because if there were no nitrogen then no amylase and maltase is created so less starch is
hydrolysed into more soluble molecules, like glucose. If there is no glucose then aerobic respiration
cannot occur as glucose contains oxygen which is the final electron acceptor in oxidative
phosphorylation, therefore no ATP is created so the organism would die as there is no ATP created to
assist the metabolic reactions in the body.
Nitrogen is needed in production of hormones such as ADH. The posterior pituitary gland is responsible
for detecting changes in levels of water in the body. If water levels in the body is too low, the posterior
pituitary gland would release ADH which passes into the blood and into the kidney. ADH will then bind
to receptors of the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct, which would stimulate the enzyme
phosphorylase within the cell. This causes vesicles, containing water channel proteins called aquaporins,
to bind to the membrane which increases the permeability to water so more water is reabsorbed. This
shows the importance of nitrogen because if there were no nitrogen then no ADH is produced therefore
no ADH wouldn’t bind to receptors of the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct to stimulate
phosphorylase so no vesicles containing aquaporins would fuse to the membrane therefore, lowering its
Many compounds derive from nitrogen which is a vital element as it is used for many molecules which
can build proteins which can build tissues can organs. Without nitrogen, there would be no life on earth
as Nitrogen is needed to help all organisms grow. There are just a few elements that are crucial to living
organisms such as hydrogen carbon oxygen and nitrogen. They are contained in amino acids which are
building blocks for all organisms, (potassium chlorine etc)
Nitrates contains nitrogen which is vital for the growth of plants. Nitrogen fixating bacteria fixes nitrogen
gas from the air into the soil to create ammonium compounds and saprobiants break down proteins
from decaying matter to create ammonium compounds in the soil. Nitrifying bacteria oxidises
ammonium compounds into nitrites then into nitrates. The roots of the plant can then actively transport
nitrates into the plant and use the nitrates to make proteins. This shows the importance of nitrogen
containing compounds, because if there were no nitrogen then no ammonium compounds wouldn’t be
created so no ammonium compounds are oxidised into nitrites then nitrates so no nitrates is available
for the plant to grow. Naming bacterial species that are involved in he nitrogen cycle. SUCH AS
NITROSOMONAS
Talking about chemistry such as what is ammonia
Nitrogen is needed to make proteins (nitrogen group in the amino acid and they make up every protein
such as enzymes.) enzymes such as amylase and maltase. Salivary amylase hydrolyse starch into
maltose. The stomach acid would then denature the salivary amylase therefore, amylase is produced in
the pancreas to hydrolyse any starch present in the stomach into maltose. In the smooth lining of the
epithelial of the intestine, maltase hydrolyse maltose into glucose. This shows the importance of
nitrogen because if there were no nitrogen then no amylase and maltase is created so less starch is
hydrolysed into more soluble molecules, like glucose. If there is no glucose then aerobic respiration
cannot occur as glucose contains oxygen which is the final electron acceptor in oxidative
phosphorylation, therefore no ATP is created so the organism would die as there is no ATP created to
assist the metabolic reactions in the body.
Nitrogen is needed in production of hormones such as ADH. The posterior pituitary gland is responsible
for detecting changes in levels of water in the body. If water levels in the body is too low, the posterior
pituitary gland would release ADH which passes into the blood and into the kidney. ADH will then bind
to receptors of the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct, which would stimulate the enzyme
phosphorylase within the cell. This causes vesicles, containing water channel proteins called aquaporins,
to bind to the membrane which increases the permeability to water so more water is reabsorbed. This
shows the importance of nitrogen because if there were no nitrogen then no ADH is produced therefore
no ADH wouldn’t bind to receptors of the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct to stimulate
phosphorylase so no vesicles containing aquaporins would fuse to the membrane therefore, lowering its
