Dear JPK What I know is we do not have much nitrate in the blood unlike carbonate/bicarbonate. Nitrite, a nitrate byproduct can cause problems but it has a different structure and probably does not interfere with bicarbonate binding to relevant proteins. Cheers, Clement
From: Keller, Jacob Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 5:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [ccp4bb] Nitrate versus Carbonate Dear Crystallographers, I don’t think there is any feasible way crystallographically to distinguish between nitrate and carbonate or bicarbonate—correct? But that is not my main question. My main question is: given that nitrate and carbonate are both very important and also very different physiologically, and therefore they must be distinguished/recognized by cells, how is this done, since the ions are so similar in structure? Is there some aspect of these ions that differs dramatically of which I am not aware? What kind of “handles” could a protein grab onto to distinguish between nitrate and carbonate/bicarbonate? JPK ******************************************* Jacob Pearson Keller, PhD Research Scientist HHMI Janelia Research Campus / Looger lab Phone: (571)209-4000 x3159 Email: [email protected] *******************************************
