2007-07-18 10:58:12 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The shape of a molecule is important to biological systems because many cells utilize receptors to begin or carry out biological processes.
Example, enzymes, if the section of an enzyme that works to break apart a molecule (called an active site) changes shape it won't work any more. The shape of the active site fits the shape of the molecule, this is termed "specific".
This is how a large number of drugs work. Find another molecule that can fit into a receptor and the effect that molecule has will be stopped. It's like breaking a key off in a lock, the lock gets "stuck" in one position untill you get the broken piece out.
2007-07-18 11:17:15 · answer #1 · answered by paul r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's put it this way - the shape of a molecule is important in the same way that the shape of a tool is important.
You can't really use a hammer to saw things in half, nor can you really use a saw to drive nails. So it goes with many biological molecules - by forming specific shapes they can control what they interact with and how.
Hope that helps!
2007-07-18 12:01:59 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as enzymes (proteins) go, the shape of the molecule completely determines what substrate the enzyme works upon. Sometimes referred to as the "Lock and Key" hypothesis, the function and structure of enzymes is directly related to the shape of its "active site" and its correspondence to a substrate molecule. The enzme is the lock into which the substrate key fits.
2007-07-18 11:10:54 · answer #3 · answered by gfulton57 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the meaning of 'shape' is a lot more complicated here than you might think. the shape can be the bulk shape - like a jigsaw puzzle piece fitting into another just as often it is the arrangement of only a dozen atoms which help a chemical reaction occur
2016-05-17 04:03:25 · answer #4 · answered by antionette 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
really I have no idea..i think that the shape of the molecule determines the molecule (or so it says in string theory)...also the shape of a molecule would also determine how it binds with other molecules.
2007-07-18 11:05:14 · answer #5 · answered by edawglikesit 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The shape deals with function.
2007-07-18 11:34:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
This is a great question, and one that made me curious for a very long time.
2016-08-24 09:07:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋