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Chemistry Applications Essay

The disease of sickle cell anemia is a large problem in the world today. Many people are affected by the disease, and it can be very lethal for the people who have the full onslaught of the disease. Sickle cell anemia involves the field of chemistry, and the way the components are structured. Overall, the slightest mistake in the building of a protein is the difference between normal red blood cells or sickled red blood cells.

The whole disease of sickle cell anemia has to do with the mutation of the hemoglobin protein. Hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen all through our body, especially our lungs. Normally, the hemoglobin is formed with an amino group, which the disease traces back to, that has a polar group at the end, making the solubility much higher. When the hemoglobin amino acid chain mutates, the mistake is a very small one. The normal hemoglobin beta subunits are found in Glutamic Acid, which is ionic. When Valine is substituted for Glutamic Acid, a non polar group, the whole protein is changed and the red blood cells becomes sickled. When the hemoglobin becomes abnormal, it has a lower solubility, especially in their deoxygenated form. When the group becomes abnormal, it leads to the twisting and reformation of the red blood cell to get the non polar group, Valine, away from the biological fluids, since Valine is a hydrophobic group. That is what causes the red blood cells to distort to the sickle shape. These sickled cells tend to clog up capillaries, since the different shape causes them to stick together. When hemoglobin is deoxygenated, it has a non polar cavity. In sickled cells, the non polar region around the Valine fits nicely into this non polar cavity, easily connecting the cells together. The clumped up blood cells can cause severe pain, physical weakness, and gradual deterioration of organs since there is a lack of oxygen to the body in certain parts. The smallest mutation can lead to this very lethal and harmful disease, especially in families that carry this gene, because it is a hereditary disease passed on by parents.

The disease, sickle cell anemia, was discovered and is treated through the use of chemistry. Since chemists have found the problem at the structural component in the amino acid chain, more research is needed to find a way to repair or prevent this mutation. The mutations of one beta subunit can really hurt people, and sadly it is hereditary and runs through families. Hopefully, the researchers, through the use of chemistry, are able to find an easy and safe cure for sickle cell anemia to stop such a lethal and harmful disease.