Amino
Acids on Earth
by
Uri Levine
1.
The properties of Methionine are:
-
Hydrophobic; neutral
-
Nonpolar, aliphatic
-
Sulfur Containing
-
High occurrence in alpha helices
2.
A derivative of Methionine would be:
3.
An interesting biological or pharmaceutical role of this methionine derivative
is:
SAMe is required in numerous
transmethylation reactions involving nucleic acids, proteins, phospholipids,
amines and other neurotransmitters. Due to these interactions, taking supplements
of SAMe has been shown to counteract depression, may help patients with
dementia, and is a potential liver disease treatment.
4.
On a biosphere on a distant planet outside our solar system, a different
but related amino acid is found:
-
On planet Vulcan, trisulfur
methionine is found in the bones of hugeoids (animals similar to dinosaurs).
It is suspected that its formation was a byproduct of the toxin that was
responsible for the extinction of these creatures.
