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The conversion of abiotic informational energy states, as in pheromone and phytochemical messengers, into biotic
informational energy states occurs in sulfhydryl / disulfide-proteinaceous receptors in the plasma membrane which encloses
each living cell (Norris 1981, 1986, 1988). Chemical messengers, by directly or indirectly oxidizing sulfhydryls or reducing
disulfides in proteins of living cells, allow the folding and unfolding, respectively, of the three-dimensional structure of such
macromolecules in cells (Figs. 5) (Sela et al. 1957, Norris 1981). Such folding and unfolding of proteins (e.g., as in muscles
during their contractions versus relaxations, or in nerve membranes during impulse generation versus decay) especially bring
to living systems, motion; a trait which is so commonly associated with life (Harold 1986).
tt -
(
H,,,- } _
Figure 5.uA schematic illustrating how the formation of disulfide (-S-S-) bonds in proteins can stabilize the three-dimensional
structure of such macromolecules in a more aggregated state (see on the right); whereas, the reduction of those
-S-S- bonds by reducing agents (e.g., some chemical messengers) can yield sulfhydryls (-SHs) and a more "opened",
non-aggregated, three-dimensional form to the protein in the receptor and energy-transducer macromolecule (see on
the/eft). In this illustration, each circle in the chains of circles represents an amino acid in the chain of amino acids
which make up a protein. Each circle containing a sulfur (S) represents the amino acid, cysteine, which bears one
sul thydryl (-SH).
As Norris and coworkers (Norris et al. 1970a, 1970b, 1971; Rozental and Norris 1973; Singer et al. 1975) showed
about 20 years ago, the highly reversible redox system based on sulfhydryl / disulfide interactions with chemical messengers
yields not only qualitative (i.e., excitatory or inhibitory), but also quantitative (i.e., quantal, unitized) exchanges of energy.
An informational system requires simply an ability to map an output (i.e., efferent) message or behavior on to an input (i.e ....
afferent) message or stinmlus (O'Connell 1981). The above described highly reversible sulfhydryl / disulfide redox system
for transferring energy (hydrogens, or electrons and protons) as information is readily quantifiable in millivolts (mV)
especially by polarography (Rozental and Norris 1973, 1975) or the electroantennogram (EAG) (Norris and Chu 1974; Norris
1979, 1986, 1988). Thus, this system fully satisfies the requirements of a code for the informational exchange of energy.
Theorized Environmental Energy Exchange Code
An informational code thus must be based on (a) an universal medium (i.e., messenger) and (b) a means (method) of
using that universal messenger to convey both qualitative and quantitative messages. Such a system allows a special use of
energy for establishing order (Harold 1986). Norris ( 1971, 1976, 1986, 1988, 1994) has presented theories, based on sulfur
electrochemistry as the universal messenger, for chemical communications among animals, including humans, and plants;
and between them and their environments. The most recent theoretical version of such a code is here termed the 'Environ-
mental Energy Exchange Code'. In the proposed EEE code, sulfur electrochemistry is the universal medium (messenger);
and the thiot (-SH), its derivatives and its redox couple, disulfide (-S-S-), are the chemical means for using sulfur electrochemistry
to convey both qualitative and quantitative messages. Thus, through chemical-messenger oxidation of a sulfhydryl
(thiol, -SH) in each of two molecules of the amino acid cysteine in the receptor protein (energy-transducer), a disulfide (-S-S-
) may form (Fig. 2 ). Such a disulfide in the three-dimensional protein involves a conformational (shape) change; such
energy transfer thus allows the protein to become more folded (aggregated) in shape (Fig. 2 ). Conversely, through chemicalmessenger
reduction of a disulfide, the -S-S- bridge between the two cysteines is broken and the protein may then assume a
more open (i.e., unfolded) three-dimensional shape (Fig. 2 ). This chemical messenger-driven, highly reversible sulfhydryl /
disulfide electrochemistry in the receptor protein (energy-transducer) thus brings to organisms quantitative dynamic form,
which is so essential to function.
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