The Nitrogen Cycle

Building proteins and

the role of earthworms
General Integrated Science Year 11
Principles of the ecosystem
Nitrogen atoms are neither created
nor destroyed. Nitrogen is recycled
through the biosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere and the atmosphere.
Small molecules may be built into
large molecules.
Large molecules may be broken down
into small molecules.
Proteins are essential for life.
Proteins build bodies.
Proteins form
Muscles and other structures
Hormones
Enzymes
Parts of the cell membranes

Protein molecules do cellular jobs

Immune system
Transport molecules like oxygen
Control all of the cellular
reactions
Protein molecules are very
large and complex.

When proteins are

burnt we observe
that they are made
of carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen and
nitrogen atoms.
C,H,O,N are arranged
in complex, folded
Actin molecules that make muscles molecules.
78% of earths atmosphere
is nitrogen. Why cant we
build protein from nitrogen
gas?
Protein molecules are made of
smaller sub-units called amino acids.
There are 20 amino acids that
can link to form thousands of
different proteins.
Amino acids are soluble
Glycine is the simplest amino
acid.
Glycine contains the
elements.
Organisms must make proteins
from simple nitrogen
compounds.
We found that the pH of
worm castings was about
pH = 5
pH = 5 means the worm castings are slightly acidic.
Worms are called the intestines of the earth
Worms digest the proteins in plants to build their
own proteins and make nitrogenous wastes.
Worm nitrogenous waste is made of small
molecules such as amino acids, urea and ammonia
40% amino acids - glycine; C2H5O2N
40% urea - CH4ON2
20% ammonia - NH3
Other simple nitrogen
compounds

Ammonia
The Nitrogen Cycle
 Nitrogen gas
Plants build protein
from soluble
nitrogen compounds
and glucose Convert urea,
soluble ammonia and
amino acids to
nitrogen eating
compounds
absorbed by
plant roots
Protein digestion
Bacteria
NH3 and living in the
castings
CH4ON2 protein synthesis
C2H5O2N Produces soluble nitrogenous
wastes; urea, ammonia,
amino acids
The Nitrogen Cycle
Recycles nitrogen atoms
Plants build proteins out of simple
nitrogen compounds such as;
ammonia NH3
urea - CH4ON2
amino acids - eg. C2H5O2N
Worms digest proteins back into simple
nitrogen compounds.
A simple nitrogenous ion