Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Phosphorus Cycle

The Phosphorus Cycle

Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.

Sulfur Assimilation

Sulfur Assimilation

Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

Proteins undergo chemical modifications that trigger changes in the charge, structure, and conformation of the proteins. Phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, methylation, and proteolysis are various protein modifications that regulate protein activity. Such modifications are usually enzyme-driven.
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. However, because inorganic electron donors...

Phase II Reactions: Sulfation and Conjugation with α-Amino Acids

Phase II Reactions: Sulfation and Conjugation with α-Amino Acids

Sulfation and α-amino acid conjugation are two critical biotransformation reactions in drug metabolism. Sulfation, a phase II biotransformation reaction, involves adding a polar sulfate group to a drug, enhancing its water solubility and promoting excretion. This process can either co-occur with or occur independently of glucuronidation. Nonmicrosomal sulfotransferase enzymes catalyze the process. The reaction involves 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate or PAPS coenzyme activation, sulfur...

Phosphorylation

Phosphorylation

The addition or removal of phosphate groups from proteins is the most common chemical modification that regulates cellular processes. These modifications can affect the structure, activity, stability, and localization of proteins within cells as well as their interactions with other proteins.
During phosphorylation, protein kinases transfer the terminal phosphate group of ATP to specific amino acid side chains of substrate proteins. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are the most commonly...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Design Principles for Negative Thermal Expansion in Two-Dimensional Materials.

Accounts of chemical research·2026

Same author

Structural Insights into AgBi(SC<sub>12</sub>H<sub>25</sub>)<sub>4</sub> Mixed-Metal <i>n</i>-Alkanethiolate: Heterometallic Thiolate Bridging and Metallophilic Interaction-Directed Self-Assembly.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Moiré-pattern-assisted thermoelectric enhancement in tungsten diselenide bilayer.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2026

Same author

Supramolecular Assembly of a Heavy-Atom-Free Highly Efficient Self-Deliverable Photosensitizer for Activable Photodynamic Therapy.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Prediction of Negative Thermal Expansion in 2D-Materials by Multistep Machine Learning Using Structural Descriptors.

Chemistry, an Asian journal·2026

Same author

Anisotropic negative thermal expansion in high-pressure phases of ScF<sub>3</sub>.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Removal of Arsenic Using a Cationic Polymer Gel Impregnated with Iron Hydroxide

Removal of Arsenic Using a Cationic Polymer Gel Impregnated with Iron Hydroxide

Published on: June 28, 2019

Can arsenates replace phosphates in natural biochemical processes? A computational study.

A K Jissy¹, Ayan Datta

¹School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, CET Campus, Thiruvananthapuram-695016, Kerala, India.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B

|June 25, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Arsenic can substitute for phosphorus in key biomolecules, according to quantum mechanical studies. This arsenic-for-phosphorus substitution is kinetically favored, suggesting a potential alternative biochemical pathway for life.

More Related Videos

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Published on: May 18, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Removal of Arsenic Using a Cationic Polymer Gel Impregnated with Iron Hydroxide

Removal of Arsenic Using a Cationic Polymer Gel Impregnated with Iron Hydroxide

Published on: June 28, 2019

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Published on: May 18, 2018

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Computational Chemistry
Astrobiology

Background:

The bacterium GFAJ-1 was controversially proposed to utilize arsenic in place of phosphorus for growth.
Understanding the biochemical feasibility of arsenic-phosphorus substitution is crucial for astrobiology and biochemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

To theoretically investigate the hypothesis that arsenic can substitute for phosphorus in biological systems.
To analyze the energetic and kinetic factors governing phosphate and arsenate transfer reactions.

Main Methods:

Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on small molecules.
Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) calculations on model systems derived from glucokinase crystal structure.
Analysis of reaction exothermicity, activation barriers, and pseudorotation barriers.

Main Results:

Arsenic substitution for phosphorus marginally decreases product stability but significantly lowers activation barriers, indicating kinetic favorability.
QM/MM calculations show a reduction in free energy and activation barrier upon arsenic incorporation.
Calculated solvent kinetic isotope effects (SKIE) suggest experimental verifiability of arsenic-phosphorus substitution.

Conclusions:

Computational studies support the feasibility of arsenic substituting for phosphorus in key biomolecules.
The kinetic favorability of arsenic incorporation suggests a potential alternative biochemical pathway.
Experimental determination of arsenic-phosphorylation is proposed based on calculated kinetic isotope effects.