Bob wrote:
On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 09:07:53 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:


Why is nitrogen essential in the making of proteins in
plants? And why is nitrogen
not essential in the making of proteins in animals.


The N is protein is the same regardless of organism. Thus the need for
N is the same in all organisms. (However, organisms vary in what form
of N they can handle. For example, you may know that about 10 of the
20 amino acids are essential in humans; we are unable to make them, so
must consume them, pre-formed, in our diet.)

bob

Thanks for the remarks. Looks like I need to expand the search from
proteins
to amino acids.

Can you elaborate where the N atom or atoms lie in a protein
molecule of a plant versus an animal. I need some picture of the N
atom in a plant
protein versus a animal protein. Is the N atom/s in plant protein any
different from the
N atom in animal proteins?

You say that about 10 of the 20 amino acids are essential in humans.
That is about
half. So is it somewhat true that the other 10 are essential in
plants, but not humans?
If the universe of amino acids is 20, then is there a even split of 10
essentials for plants
whereas the other 10 are essential to animals?

Are there any catalysts involved with the Nitrogen uptake in plants
and animals?
If so, are they different for plants versus animals?

Archimedes Plutonium
www.iw.net/~a_plutonium
whole entire Universe is just one big atom
where dots of the electron-dot-cloud are galaxies