2.5 KiB
2.5 KiB
Proteins are large, complex, organic molecules made up of amino acids. - Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen - Found in plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses
- Major functions of protein in the body:
- To build new cells and many parts of cells
- As a component in hardened structures like hair and nails
- As enzymes to speed chemical reactions
- As lubricants to ease movement
- In clotting compounds in blood
- To build antibodies that fight disease organisms
- As compounds that help maintain fluid and pH balance
- As transporters
- To make certain hormones
- As an energy source (as a last resort)
Introduction
- By helping to maintain fluid balance, proteins prevent edema (accumulation of fluid in tissues
- Proteins also help maintain acid-base balance.
- Maintaining the proper pH of body fluids
- Acts as a buffer
Amino acids
- Amino acids are nitrogen containing chemical units that comprise proteins
- There are 20 different amino acids found in the proteins of the human body
- Each amino acid has a carbon atom that anchors
- Hydrogen atom
- Amino or nitrogen containing group
- R group (side chain)
- carboxylic acid group
- nonessential amino acids are a group of amino acids that the body can make
- Essential amino acids are amino acids the body cannot make or cannot make enough of to meet its needs
- Conditionally essential amino acids are the amino acids the body cannot make or cannot make enough of to meet its needs
- There are 9 essential acids and 11 non-essential acids
| Essential | Nonessential |
|---|---|
| Histidine | Alanine |
| Isoleucine | Aspartic acid |
| Leucine | Asparagine |
| Lysine | Glutanic acid |
| Methionine | Serine |
| Phenylanaline | Argine |
| Threonine | Cysteine |
| Tryptophan (extra important) | GLutamine |
| Valine | Glycine |
| Proline | |
| Tyrosine | |
| TT HILL MVP |
Synthesis
A specific order of amino acids is needed to formulate a protein.
DNA
- DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) provides instructions for making proteins.
- Genes are a portion of DNA
- To make proteins, cells assemble amino acids into specific sequences according to information from DNA
- A peptide bond is a chemical attraction that connects two amino acids together