The mineral substances of the cell and their significance. The role of minerals in the cell

The cell is not only the structural unit of all living things, a peculiar brick of life, but also a small biochemical factory, in which, every fraction of a second, various transformations and reactions take place. So the structural components necessary for life and body growth are formed: the mineral substances of the cell, water and organic compounds. Therefore it is very important to know what will happen if one of them is not enough. What role do the various compounds play in the life of these tiny, not visible to the naked eye, structural particles of living systems? We will try to understand this issue.

Classification of cell substances

All the compounds that make up the cell mass, which form its structural parts and are responsible for its development, nutrition, respiration, plastic and energy metabolism, normal development, can be divided into three large groups. These are categories such as:

• Organic;
• Inorganic substances of the cell (mineral salts);
• water.

Often the latter is referred to the second group of inorganic components. In addition to these categories, you can identify those that are composed of their combination. These are the metals that make up the molecule of organic compounds (for example, a hemoglobin molecule containing an iron ion is protein by nature).

The mineral substances of the cell

If we talk specifically about the mineral or inorganic compounds that make up each living organism, they are also not the same in nature and in quantitative terms. Therefore they have their own classification.

All inorganic compounds can be divided into three groups.

1. Microelements. Those whose content inside the cell is more than 0.02% of the total mass of inorganic substances. Examples: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus, sodium.
2. Microelements - less than 0.02%. These include: zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, cobalt, manganese, fluorine, nickel, vanadium, iodine, germanium.
3. Ultra-microcells - the content is less than 0.0000001%. Examples: gold, cesium, platinum, silver, mercury and some others.

You can also highlight several elements that are organogenic, that is, they form the basis of organic compounds, from which the body of a living organism is built. These are such elements as:

• hydrogen;
• nitrogen;
• carbon;
• oxygen.

They build molecules of proteins (the basis of life), carbohydrates, lipids and other substances. However, for normal functioning of the body, mineral substances also respond. The chemical composition of the cell is calculated by dozens of elements from the periodic table, which are the key to successful life activity. Only about 12 of all atoms do not play a role at all, or it is negligible and has not been studied.

Particularly important are certain salts that must be ingested with food every day in sufficient quantities so that various diseases do not develop. For plants it is, for example, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate. For humans and animals, these are calcium salts, table salt as a source of sodium and chlorine, etc.

Water

The mineral substances of the cell combine with water into a common group of inorganic substances, so you can not say about its meaning. What role does it play in the body of living beings? Great. At the beginning of the article, we compared the cell to the biochemical plant. So, all the second-minute transformations of substances are carried out exactly in the water environment. It is a universal solvent and a medium for chemical interactions, synthesis and decay processes.

In addition, water is part of the internal environment:

• Cytoplasm;
• Cell sap in plants;
• Blood in animals and humans;
• Urine;
• Saliva of other biological fluids.

Dehydration means death for all organisms without exception. Water is the environment of life for a huge number of diverse representatives of flora and fauna. Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of this inorganic substance, it is truly unlimited.

Macro elements and their meaning

The mineral substances of the cell for its normal operation are of great importance. First of all, this concerns just the macronutrients. The role of each of them has been thoroughly studied and established long ago. What atoms make up a group of macroelements, we have already listed above, so we will not repeat. Let us briefly denote the role of the principal ones.

1. Calcium. Its salts are necessary for the supply of Ca ²⁺ ions into the body. The ions themselves participate in the processes of blood clotting and clotting, provide exocytosis of the cell, as well as muscle contractions, including cardiac contractions. Insoluble salts are the basis of strong bones and teeth of animals and humans.
2. Potassium and sodium. Maintain the state of the membrane potential of the cell, form the sodium-potassium pump of the heart.
3. Chlorine - is involved in the electrical neutrality of the cell.
4. Phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen - are constituents of many organic compounds, and also participate in the work of muscles, the composition of bones.

Of course, if we consider each element in more detail, we can say a lot about its excess in the body, and about the lack. After all, both are harmful and leads to diseases of various kinds.

Trace Elements

The role of mineral substances in the cell, which belong to the group of microelements, is also great. Despite the fact that their content is very small in the cage, without them it will not be able to function properly for a long time. The most important of all the above atoms in this category are as follows:

• iodine;
• zinc;
• copper;
• selenium;
• fluorine;
• cobalt.

A normal level of iodine is needed to maintain the thyroid gland and produce hormones. Fluoride is needed by the body to strengthen the enamel of the teeth, and plants - to maintain the elasticity and rich color of the leaves.

Zinc and copper are elements that make up many enzymes and vitamins. They are important participants in the processes of synthesis and plastic metabolism.

Selenium - an active participant in regulatory processes, is necessary for the endocrine system to work. Cobalt also has another name - vitamin B ₁₂ , and all compounds of this group are extremely important for the immune system.

Therefore, the functions of the mineral substances in the cell, which are formed by microelements, are no less than those that perform macrostructures. Therefore, it is important to consume both in sufficient quantities.

Ultra-microcells

The mineral substances of the cell, which are formed by ultramicroelements, play not so significant a role as the above. However, their long-term deficiency can lead to the development of very unpleasant, and sometimes very dangerous consequences for health.

For example, selenium is also referred to this group. Its prolonged shortage provokes the development of cancerous tumors. Therefore, it is considered indispensable. But gold and silver are metals that have a negative effect on bacteria, destroying them. Therefore, a bactericidal role plays inside the cell.

However, in general, it should be said that the functions of ultramicroelements have not yet been fully revealed by scientists, and their significance remains unclear.

Metals and organic substances

Many metals are part of organic molecules. For example, magnesium is the coenzyme of chlorophyll necessary for plant photosynthesis. Iron is part of the hemoglobin molecule, without which it is impossible to breathe. Copper, zinc, manganese and others are parts of molecules of enzymes, vitamins and hormones.

Obviously, all these compounds are important for the body. It can not be attributed completely to mineral, but in part it does follow.

Mineral substances of the cell and their significance: class 5, table

To summarize what was said during the article, we will compile a general table, in which we will reflect what mineral compounds are and why they are needed. You can use it when explaining this topic to students, for example, in the fifth grade.

Thus, the mineral substances of the cell and their significance will be assimilated by the students in the course of the basic stage of training.

Consequences of lack of mineral compounds

When we say that the role of mineral substances in a cell is important, we must give examples that prove this fact.

We list some of the diseases that develop in the absence or excess of any of the compounds identified in the course of the article.

1. Hypertension.
2. Ischemia, heart failure.
3. Goiter and other diseases of the thyroid gland (Bazedova disease and others).
4. Anemia.
5. Incorrect growth and development.
6. Cancerous tumors.
7. Fluorosis and caries.
8. Diseases of the blood.
9. Disturbance of the muscular and nervous system.
10. Indigestion.

Of course, this is not a complete list. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the daily diet is correct and balanced.