Why is the study of chiral molecules important in biochemistry?
1 Answer
Because organisms may react differently to stereo-isomers.
Whenever there are asymmetric atoms in a molecule, there is the possibility of stereo-isomers. The simplest form are mirror images of each other, like a pair of gloves.
Most organisms are 'keyed' to processing only one of these forms, and that is the form that usually occurs as the only one in nature, because they are also produced by (other) organisms.
Chemical synthesis of compounds very often produces an mixture of both forms, called a racemic mixture, where only one form is effective, and the other form is not used or may even do damage.
One example of a chiral molecule is glucose, that naturally only occurs in the so-called right-hand variety, called D-glucose or dextrose (dexter=Latin for right). It is possible to make L-glucose (its mirror-image) by chemical synthesis.
The human body cannot use L-glucose. It tasts just as sweet, but no calories can be gained from it. It will be secreted by the kidneys, where it may do some damage in the long term, or part of it may cause fermentation in the intestines (flatulence).
A more notorious example is thalidomide (aka softenon and other names), prescribed in the 50s and early 60s for pregnant women to deal with morning sickness (a.o.). The laboratory stuff that was tested contained only one stereo-isomer, but the industrial product also contained the other one, which led to great deformities in newborn babies.
