Your Fast Motors

"ATP synthase---This is a set of individual proteins that are assembled to manufacture the energy storage substance that powers your body—ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Think of ATP like the gasoline that powers your car. 

The ATP synthase enzyme works like a tiny electric motor. 

--It makes the ATP ‘fuel’, molecule by molecule, by adding a phosphate group to another molecule, ADP (adenosine diphosphate). --ATP has a higher energy content than ADP, so the conversion requires energy.

This stored energy within ATP can, when needed, be released to fuel

various biological processes;
--to do this, the ATP fuel is ‘burned’ by hydrolyzing it (breaking it down with a water molecule) back to ADP.

--This ADP can be ‘recharged’ by the ATP synthase motor back to ATP.

ATP synthase motors are found in every living thing, and ATP is required as the source of stored energy for all cellular processes. This is so, whether the energy initially comes from burning carbohydrates, photosynthesis, or, in the case of some bacteria, breaking down certain chemicals found in their environment.

The amount of ATP needed to power an organism is huge; active
people make—then use—their own body weight of ATP every day. So cells need very large numbers of these magnificent machines.

In bacteria, the ATP synthase is mostly found in the cell membrane. In eukaryotes (creatures which, unlike bacteria, have a cell nucleus—e.g., animals, plants, and fungi), ATP synthase is found within special organelles (like mini-organs in the cell). These are called mitochondria. In plants, and other eukaryotes which use sunshine for growth, ATP synthase is found not only in mitochondria, but also in other organelles called chloroplasts.

A 70-kg man has 3 trillion cells with mitochondria (not counting gut bacteria). Most cell types can have hundreds, if not more, mitochondria per cell. So we are already at hundreds of trillions of mitochondria, each of which has thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of these machines in it. So, though not all are active at the same time, it seems that the number of ATP synthase machines in our body is in the order of hundreds of quadrillions!

In 2005, this amazing machine from a strain of bacteria called Bacillus sp. PS3 was studied in great detail. It was discovered that part of it, termed FOF1, had a maximum speed of about 350 revolutions per second (rps) at 37 °C (99 °F)—about 21,000 rpm. At 45 °C (113 °F) it reached 39,000 rpm. The researchers extrapolated that at 60 °C (140 °F)—an optimum growth temperature for this bacterium—the maximum speed would be a whopping 96,000 rpm!

These staggering speeds rival modern sophisticated man-made cars and aeroplanes. When the Swedish-built 5.1 L (309 cu in) twin-turbocharged V8 Koenigsegg Jesko was built in 2021, it was said to be the fastest-revving production car ever. Yet it ‘redlines’ at 8,500
rpm. The turbine engine in the Boeing 737 MAX spins at up to 20,500 rpm.

A succession of the world’s best engineers and scientists have been designing car engines for over 150 years. Yet modern car internal combustion engines have maximum rotation speeds much less than that of the ATP synthase in a ‘simple’ bacterium.

All of this points to a super-intelligent cosmic designer being responsible for the ATP synthase in all life.

It’s easy to see the design of ATP synthase as evidence of our Creator, Jesus Christ the Son of God, “Who is the image of the invisible God … all things were created by Him, and for Him” Colossians 1:15–16."
CMI

Manufacturing of a raw protein: stop signals & a postal address

 I lay my hand on my mouth. Job 40:4

"The manufacturing of a raw protein is nothing short of an engineering miracle. The cell starts with a complex machine called a ribosome. This is composed of multiple proteins and RNAs, each of which must be coded in the DNA, manufactured with ATP-dependent processes … you get the drill.

*The mRNA is fed into the ribosome from one end. 

*The mRNA will be translated into protein three letters at a time. 

*Each set of three letters is called a ‘codon’. There are 64 possible codons and 21 amino acids, so some amino acids are ‘coded’ by more than one codon. 

*Three of the codons are used as ‘stop’ signals, but one of them can also code for the amino acid selenocysteine.

A series of adaptor molecules called transfer RNAs (tRNA) enter the ribosome. 

*At the base of each tRNA is a three-letter ‘anti-codon’ that matches a codon. 

*At the top of each tRNA is an amino acid that is removed from the tRNA and added to the growing protein strand. 

*Each tRNA is ‘charged’ with its amino acid by a specific protein in the aminoacyl transferase family. There are elaborate mechanisms to make sure the right amino acid is charged, not the wrong one, even if chemically similar. Not only do these proteins require ATP in their manufacture, but the charging step and the protein elongation step

also burn ATP.

Most proteins, if left to themselves, will fold up into a useless knot of random coils. Thus, they need help folding. After the strand leaves the ribosome, helper proteins called chaperones clamp onto the unfolded strand. 

*The protein is then escorted to, and inserted into, a huge multi-protein molecule called a chaperonin. We’re not exactly certain what happens inside, but the chaperonin will fold the protein into its near-finished state and spit it out the other end. More proteins. More activity. More ATP burned.

The final stage in the manufacturing process is delivery. 

Proteins must be actively transported to the site where they are needed. To do that, the cell uses a kinesin protein. There are many different kinesin types, but the main one we need to know about is a slender molecule with two legs. Those legs literally walk along a microtubule (made of proteins that require ATP in their manufacturing, transport, and assembly). Each step requires one ATP. The package to be delivered is stored on the top end of the kinesin and various signals and modifications to it effectively serve as a postal address." 

CMI

Your Liver Machine

 "The liver is a multifunction accessory organ to digestion, which means that it is not part of the alimentary canal, but external to it. Among other things, it is essential to the healthy functioning of the gastrointestinal and endocrine systems. Introducing digestive juices into the system, liver functions are part of the process of detoxifying and breaking down food components into a form suitable for absorption.

The liver controls the glucose level in blood by converting glucose into glycogen (glycogenesis) if the glucose level is too high, and vice versa when it is too low. When a person has low blood sugar, the
liver can release glucose through the conversion of certain amino acids and lactate, as well as other sugars like fructose and galactose. If the sugar level is too high, the liver can turn glucose into fats, too.

The compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP) delivers energy for most of life’s metabolic processes; for example, the manufacture of protein machines. ATP synthase is one such machine, a motor consisting of 29 proteins, which in turn produces ATP.

A very important function of the liver is the detoxification of drugs such as penicillin, sulfonamides (R–S(= O)2–NR2, with ‘R’ a chemical group, the simplest being hydrogen), and ethanol (alcohol).

The hepatic cells of the liver daily produce nearly 0.5 liter of bile; a basic liquid (pH 7.6–8.6) that has a yellow, brown, or olive-green color. Bile is needed for fat digestion during and after meals, so is

stored in concentrated form in the gallbladder. 

A very important function of the liver is the detoxification of drugs such as penicillin, sulfonamides (R–S(= O)2–NR2, with ‘R’ a chemical group, the simplest being hydrogen), and ethanol (alcohol).

It beggars belief how all this could have come about in a gradual, goal-less, evolutionary progression. From no liver to a fully developed, integrated, multi-tasking organ, numerous tasks would need to be put in place, all interdependent with other organs/systems.

The liver is essential for life. Without a liver, death ensues very quickly (...till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. Proverbs 7:23)." 

CMI

Structural Design Patterns

 Where is the wise? 
where is the scribe? 
where is the disputer of this world?  
1 Corinthians 1:20

"Structural patterns are design patterns based on object-to-object relationships. For structural patterns, Andrews et al. identify six subcategories. 

Of these, the third is common currency.

Across cells, there are many common metabolites, including common storage forms of energy, such as ATP. Traditionally, this has been attributed to common ancestry, but there is a critical design-based reason for it. 

Using a common currency simplifies interactions between objects.

 For example, it’s easier to fill up your car with gasoline when

gasoline is a common currency because no matter where you travel, other people need gasoline for their cars, and so chances are you will find it for sale. Here’s another example: It is easier to buy groceries with a common currency, such as the U.S. dollar, because you don’t have to stop and exchange your money before making a purchase, likely paying a fee for doing so.

Cells face similar constraints. 

They rely on certain producers of energy at certain times and incur a cost for energy interconversions. Thus, ATP is likely a designed solution to the aforementioned requirements. Andrews et al. point out that the topological pattern of common currency has a “bow tie” architecture. 

In this type of architecture, many nutrients are turned into a common currency (the knot) which can then expand to accomplish many different things. 

This design motif requires an intelligent agent because the goals of the ecosystem and organisms must be evaluated before coming up with a currency that can work between lower-level objects. 

This entails an understanding of how everything will interrelate and what is possible in the design space of physics and chemistry, followed by planning and implementation. Only an intelligent agent has these capabilities, which are not accessible to random processes."

EN&V/EmilyReeves

Proton Pumps

 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

"The properties of the transition metals are also uniquely fit for their participation in the electron transport chain, which is crucial to the process of cellular respiration. 

Briefly, the electron transport chain involves the flow of electrons through a respiratory chain. 

Electrons pass through three protein complexes that are embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane: 

NADH-Q oxidoreductase (Complex I); 

Q-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (Complex III); 

and cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV). 

Complex I, a large multi-subunit protein, is the enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of electrons from the reducing agent (electron donor) NADH to coenzyme Q. 

The electrons are relayed to cytochrome c at Complex III, and Complex IV transfers the electrons to oxygen, which is thus reduced to water. 

Complexes I, III, and IV serve as proton pumps, using the energy from electron transfer to transport protons from the matrix into the intermembrane space. 

The complexes utilize the energy given up by the flow of electrons. The inner mitochondrial membrane is impermeable to protons, leading to their accumulation in the intermembrane space.

Like water behind a dam, this build-up of protons stores potential energy. A chemical turbine called ATP synthase then facilitates the flow of protons down their concentration gradient from the inner membrane space to the matrix, using the energy released in the process to create ATP. 

Essential to this process is a unique property of the transition metal atoms, namely, their possessing different redox potentials — that is, their ability to accommodate varying numbers of electrons in their outermost shells. 

The extent to which the outer shell is full of electrons will determine the atom’s affinity for electrons (with a less full outer shell having a stronger affinity for electrons than one that is fuller). Furthermore, the redox potential (that is, the affinity for electrons) of the transition metals “can be fine-tuned by appropriate choice of ligands to encompass almost the entire biologically significant range of redox potentials.” 

This makes it possible to organize a chain of transition metal atoms, each with an increasing redox potential, in order for electrons to be drawn from one metal atom to the next in a series of discrete ordered steps. 

No other atoms, besides the transition metal atoms, have the properties needed to undertake this task. It is also noteworthy that no alternative mechanism has ever been employed in any known lifeform to generate the large quantities of ATP needed to sustain life." 

EN&V

Your Billions of Motors

Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. 

Isaiah 43:7

"But did you know we have billions of motors that are much more complex than anyone can build—in our cells? The world’s smallest motor is called ATP synthase, and you have trillions of them in your body. 100,000 would fit side-by-side on a millimeter.

It is very important that these motors work correctly, because they make the fuel that our cells run on. They produce a chemical called ATP—about your body weight in ATP every day! Cyanide is such a deadly poison because it stops ATP production.

This motor is powered by an electrical current, thanks to another part of the cell that acts like a tiny battery. It spins at 10,000 rpm, and each turn produces three molecules of ATP. The ATP motor is almost 100% efficient: almost all the electrical energy is turned into ATP.

ATP synthase could not have evolved, because you can’t have evolution before you have a living thing that can make copies of itself, and every example of a living thing we know of has ATP synthase—it’s needed to live." 

CMI

ATP synthase

I will praise Thee;
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Psalm 139:14

"ATP synthase is one of the most astonishing and elegant nano-machines of the cell, a proton-powered rotary engine pumping out life’s energy currency nonstop. 

How it could have arisen by blind, unguided processes is rarely addressed in the origin-of-life community.

HOW ATP synthase work: Life depends on an incredible enzyme

called ATP synthase, the world’s tiniest rotary motor. 

This tiny protein complex makes an energy-rich compound, ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Each of the human body’s 14 trillion cells performs this reaction about a million times per minute. Over half a body weight of ATP is made and consumed every day!
All living things need to make ATP, often called the “energy currency of life”. 

ATP is a small molecule with a big job: to provide immediately usable energy for cellular machines. ATP-driven protein machines power almost everything that goes on inside living cells, including manufacturing DNA, RNA, and proteins, clean-up of debris, and transporting chemicals into, out of, and within cells. 

Other fuel sources will not power these cellular protein machines for the same reasons that oil, wind, or sunlight will not power a gasoline engine.
---This protein complex contains at least 29 separately manufactured subunits that fit together into two main portions: the head and the base.

When a stream of tiny hydrogen ions (protons) flows through the base and out the side of ATP synthase, passing across Mechanism of ATP synthase.
....they force the axle and base to spin. The stiff central axle pushes

against the inside walls of the six head proteins, which become slightly deformed and reformed alternately. Each of your trillions of cells has many thousands of these machines spinning at over 9,000 rpm.
The spinning axle causes squeezing motions of the head so as to align an ADP next to a phosphate, forming ATP … in bucket loads.
This motor is incredibly high-tech design in nano-size.

Evolutionary scientists have suggested that the head portion of ATP synthase evolved from a class of proteins used to unwind DNA during DNA replication.
However, 

Q: how could ATP synthase “evolve” from something that needs ATP, manufactured by ATP synthase, to function?" 

CEH