Why is the study of chiral molecules important in biochemistry?

since organisms' responses to stereo-isomers can differ.

Stereo-isomers can occur in any molecule with asymmetric atoms; the most basic kind are mirror images of one another, resembling a pair of gloves.

Being produced by other organisms, the majority of organisms are 'keyed' to processing only one of these forms, which is the one that typically occurs as the only one in nature.

When compounds are synthesized chemically, the result is frequently a mixture of the two forms, known as a racemic mixture, in which only one form is useful and the other is either ineffective or even harmful.

A chiral molecule is glucose, which is found only in its naturally occurring form in the so-called right-hand variety, also known as D-glucose or dextrose (dexter is Latin for "right"). It is possible to chemically synthesize L-glucose, which is its mirror-image, but the human body cannot use L-glucose; although it tastes sweeter, it has no nutritional value and is secreted by the kidneys where it may cause long-term harm or partially fermentation in the intestines (flatulence).

A more well-known example is thalidomide (also known as softenon and other names), which was prescribed in the 1950s and early 1960s to pregnant women to treat morning sickness (a.o.). The industrial product contained the other stereo-isomer, causing severe birth defects in the babies. The laboratory material that was tested contained only one stereo-isomer.

The study of chiral molecules in biochemistry is important because many biological molecules, such as amino acids, sugars, and enzymes, exhibit chirality. Biological processes often depend on the specific spatial arrangement of these molecules, and alterations in chirality can impact their functions. Understanding chiral properties is crucial for comprehending the intricacies of biochemical reactions and designing effective drugs, as biological systems are highly sensitive to molecular structure.