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Phosphates in Living Systems

It is impossible to know whether or not the properties of phosphates dictated the characteristics of life or the characteristics of life required the unique properties of phosphates for life to sustain itself. Certainly similar questions could be asked of water, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and all other essential components for life. The following is a discussion of focus and not of exclusion. The properties that I consider vital are listed. [Pg.29]

Stability of oxidation state is a major factor. Almost all phosphoms is found in an oxidation state of +5 and it is very difficult to reduce phosphoms to [Pg.29]

Solubility of calcium orthophosphate is another consideration of phosphates in living systems. The calcium orthophosphates in bones and teeth is very sparingly soluble. Conversely, many phosphates ingested are soluble. This allows them to be transported throughout a living body, yet mineralized at points where they are required. [Pg.30]

Orthophosphates can be converted to polyphosphates, such as adenosine triphosphate, where they have new properties of an anionic substance with a relatively high charge. This allows the polyphosphate to sequester cations as calcium and magnesium yielding locally very high concentrations of these ions at reaction sites while the concentration of a total system can be very dilute. This can happen while the molecule is entering into reactions such as phosphorylations. These reactions are critical to metabolism and photosynthesis. [Pg.30]

Hydrolytic degradation and polyphosphate formation are both vital and are both subject to enzyme interaction for control. [Pg.30]


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