title: A core process in receptor function, general anesthesia, sleep, and aging.
abstract: The diffusion of ligands and proteins was proposed to be guided by chreodes in water organized by protein-surface side chains with varying hydropathic states. These chreodes are proposed to be the target of volatile general anesthetic agents. The similarity between this effect and sleep deprivation leads to a proposal of an external agent responsible for sleep. This agent is elemental nitrogen. An extension of this effect is the concept that elemental nitrogen is a core factor in aging.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2030, USA. lbkier@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Lemont B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Kier
authors.forename: Patricia W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Slattum
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012890:Sleep; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D009584:Nitrogen