Ancient bond holds life together, literally

Animal tissues and organs may require a specific link between sulfur and nitrogen

BOND OF LIFE  A link between nitrogen and sulfur atoms (bond shown in green) helps hold together protein strands (yellow and white) that create a cellular scaffold essential for tissue and organ formation.

Courtesy of Jean-Philippe Cartailler, Symmation LLC

The rise of multicellular structures in animals may have hinged on a chemical link between sulfur and nitrogen atoms.