Overview
| Molecule/Component | Domain/Context | Class | Formula/Composition | Immediate role | Upstream inputs | Downstream outputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adenine | Genetic code | Nucleobase (purine) | C5H5N5 | Base in DNA/RNA; pairs with T/U | Purine biosynthesis | ATP, dATP, RNA, DNA |
| Guanine | Genetic code | Nucleobase (purine) | C5H5N5O | Base in DNA/RNA; pairs with C | Purine biosynthesis | GTP, dGTP, RNA, DNA |
| Cytosine | Genetic code | Nucleobase (pyrimidine) | C4H5N3O | Base in DNA/RNA; pairs with G | Pyrimidine biosynthesis | CTP, dCTP, RNA, DNA |
| Thymine | Genetic code | Nucleobase (pyrimidine) | C5H6N2O2 | Base in DNA; pairs with A | Pyrimidine biosynthesis | dTTP, DNA |
| Uracil | Genetic code | Nucleobase (pyrimidine) | C4H4N2O2 | Base in RNA; pairs with A | Pyrimidine biosynthesis | UTP, RNA |
| ATP | All domains | Nucleotide triphosphate | C10H16N5O13P3 | Energy currency | Oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, photophosphorylation | ADP + Pi, RNA synthesis |
| GTP | Genetic code | Nucleotide triphosphate | C10H16N5O14P3 | Energy for translation, RNA synthesis | TCA cycle, nucleotide kinases | GDP, RNA synthesis |
| Alanine | Genetic code | Amino acid | C3H7NO2 | Protein building block | Amino acid biosynthesis or diet | Proteins |
| Selenocysteine | Genetic code | Amino acid | C3H7NO2Se | Special amino acid at UGA codon | Ser-tRNA^Sec + selenium | Selenoproteins |
| Pyrrolysine | Genetic code | Amino acid | C12H21N3O3 | Special amino acid at UAG codon | Lysine derivatives via pyl biosynthesis | Pyl-containing enzymes |
| mRNA | Genetic code | RNA polymer | Variable | Codon carrier for translation | DNA transcription | Protein synthesis |
| tRNA | Genetic code | RNA polymer | Variable | Delivers amino acids to ribosome | tRNA transcription + aminoacylation | Translation elongation |
| Ribosome | Genetic code | Ribonucleoprotein | Variable | Translates mRNA into protein | rRNA + ribosomal proteins | Proteins |
| Chitin | Mycelium | Structural polysaccharide | (C8H13O5N)n | Main fungal cell wall polymer | UDP-N-acetylglucosamine | Cell wall microfibrils |
| β-1,3-glucan | Mycelium | Structural polysaccharide | (C6H10O5)n | Cell wall strength & flexibility | UDP-glucose | Glucan network |
| Ergosterol | Mycelium | Sterol lipid | C28H44O | Regulates fungal membrane fluidity | Mevalonate pathway | Membrane lipid rafts |
| Lignin peroxidase | Mycelium | Enzyme (protein) | Protein | Degrades lignin in plant debris | Gene expression + heme insertion | Aromatic breakdown products |
| Cellulose | Algae/Soil | Structural polysaccharide | (C6H10O5)n | Structural polymer in plant/algal cell walls | UDP-glucose | Cell wall microfibrils |
| Agarose | Algae | Structural polysaccharide | Agarobiose units | Cell wall component (red algae) | Galactose metabolism | Agar gel matrix |
| Carrageenan | Algae | Sulfated polysaccharide | (C12H18O9S)n | Gel-forming cell wall component | Galactose + sulfation | Extracellular matrix gels |
| Alginate | Algae | Structural polysaccharide | Mannuronic + guluronic acids | Brown algae matrix polymer | Mannuronic acid biosynthesis | Alginate fibers/gels |
| Chlorophyll a | Algae | Pigment (porphyrin) | C55H72MgN4O5 | Primary photosynthetic pigment | Tetrapyrrole biosynthesis | Light capture → electron transfer |
| Fucoxanthin | Algae | Carotenoid pigment | C42H58O6 | Brown algae accessory pigment | Isoprenoid pathway | Light capture & photoprotection |
| β-carotene | Algae | Carotenoid pigment | C40H56 | Antioxidant, pigment | Isoprenoid pathway | Vitamin A precursors |
| Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) | Algae | Secondary metabolite | C5H10O2S | Osmolyte, climate-relevant sulfur source | Methionine metabolism | Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) |
| Quartz (SiO2) | Soil | Mineral (sand/silt fraction) | SiO2 | Physical soil matrix | Weathering of silicate rocks | Soil texture structure |
| Feldspar minerals | Soil | Aluminosilicate minerals | KAlSi3O8, NaAlSi3O8, CaAl2Si2O8 | Source of K+, Na+, Ca2+, Al, Si | Rock weathering | Clay minerals, ion release |
| Clay minerals | Soil | Aluminosilicate phyllosilicates | Variable | High cation exchange capacity | Feldspar/mica weathering | Nutrient retention/exchange |
| Calcium carbonate | Soil | Carbonate mineral | CaCO3 | pH buffer, Ca2+ source | Weathering of limestone | Dissolved Ca2+, CO2 |
| Humic acids | Soil | Organic macromolecules | Aromatic/aliphatic C with carboxyls | C sequestration, nutrient chelation | OM humification | Stable SOM fraction |
| Fulvic acids | Soil | Organic macromolecules | Aromatic/aliphatic C with more O groups | Mobile nutrient chelators | OM humification | Complexed micronutrients |
| Glomalin | Soil/Mycelium | Glycoprotein | Variable | Soil aggregation agent | Fungal metabolism | Soil aggregates, C storage |
| Calcium oxalate | Organic minerals | Biomineral (organic acid salt) | CaC2O4·xH2O | Regulates Ca2+; crystalline storage | Oxalic acid + Ca2+ | Crystal deposits, soil Ca cycling |
| Struvite | Organic minerals | Biomineral (organic phosphate salt) | MgNH4PO4·6H2O | Nutrient storage/release | Mg2+ + NH4+ + PO43- from OM | Slow-release fertilizer |
| Siderite (biogenic) | Organic minerals | Biomineral (carbonate) | FeCO3 | Fe2+ storage under reducing conditions | Fe2+ + CO32- | Fe cycling in anoxic soils/sediments |
| Humic acid–metal complex | Organic minerals | Organo-mineral complex | Humic polymer + Fe3+/Ca2+/Mg2+/Zn2+ | Micronutrient chelation | Humic acid + metal ions | Plant-available micronutrients |
| Fulvic acid–metal complex | Organic minerals | Organo-mineral complex | Fulvic polymer + trace metals | Mobile nutrient chelators | Fulvic acid + metal ions | Nutrient transport in soil water |
| Chlorophyll–Mg complex | Organic minerals | Metalloporphyrin | C55H72MgN4O5 | Photosynthetic pigment | Tetrapyrrole biosynthesis + Mg2+ | Light capture → electron transfer |
| Hemoglobin/heme–Fe complex | Organic minerals | Metalloporphyrin | C34H32FeN4O4 | O2 transport/storage | Porphyrin synthesis + Fe2+ | Oxyhemoglobin, electron transfer |
| Vitamin B12–Co complex | Organic minerals | Corrinoid | C63H88CoN14O14P | Cofactor for methyl transfer | Corrin ring biosynthesis + Co2+ | Methylation reactions |
| Phytochelatin–metal complex | Organic minerals | Peptide–metal complex | (γ-Glu–Cys)n–Gly + metals | Heavy metal detox | Glutathione + metal ions | Sequestered metal complexes |
| Polyphosphate–metal salt | Organic minerals | Organo-phosphate mineral | (PO3-)n + Ca2+/Mg2+ | Nutrient/energy reserve | ATP, ADP polymerization | Mineral phosphate release |
| Calcium phytate | Organic minerals | Organic phosphate salt | C6H6O24P6Ca | Storage form of P | Phytic acid + Ca2+ | Phosphate release via phytases |
| Iron–tannin complex | Organic minerals | Polyphenol–metal complex | Tannin polymers + Fe3+ | Antimicrobial, Fe storage | Plant polyphenols + Fe3+ | Soil Fe cycling, humus formation |
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Cloud Computing
Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Cloud-based servers, storage, and networking that customers configure and manage without owning the underlying data-center hardware.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Software accessed as an online service instead of being installed and maintained entirely on the customer’s own computers or servers.
Disaster Recovery (DRaaS)
A plan and service for restoring applications, data, and operations after an outage or disruption. DRaaS provides recovery infrastructure through a managed cloud service.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.
API
An application programming interface is a defined way for software systems to exchange data or request functions from one another.