Al's Tools
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Al's active site is where
he changes alcohols into
aldehydes. Four links (shown in solid dark blue) hold onto a zinc
atom, which moves a hydrogen atom between a molecule of
cyclohexyl alcohol (shown in brick red) and NAD (light blue). All the
rest of Al's links serve to bring the alcohol and NAD into the right
place so that the active site can work on them. (The rest of Al's
links are shown as transparent shells, color-coded by which of Al's domains they're in.)
Al is not alone in needing a little help to do his work. Many other workers use metal atoms or other small molecules in their active sites. Since the human body can't make these molecules, we need to get them in our diets -- they are the vitamins and minerals we need for our workers to do their jobs. |
Part One: Reading the Book
The Anatomy of a Worker
Part Three: Improving the Book
Appendix D: Al's Home Page
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