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Understanding Protein Requirements

The document is a study guide focused on proteins, detailing their definitions, functions, sources, and the digestion process. It covers the importance of proteins in the human body, the structure of amino acids, and health conditions related to protein intake. Additionally, it discusses the effects of excessive protein consumption and deficiency, providing a comprehensive overview of proteins in nutrition.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
20 views4 pages

Understanding Protein Requirements

The document is a study guide focused on proteins, detailing their definitions, functions, sources, and the digestion process. It covers the importance of proteins in the human body, the structure of amino acids, and health conditions related to protein intake. Additionally, it discusses the effects of excessive protein consumption and deficiency, providing a comprehensive overview of proteins in nutrition.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Module 7 Study Guide: Proteins

Complete the following questions using Chapter 1 in your textbook. All answers must be completed in
detail and written in complete sentences whenever possible. When finished, save the assignment and
submit it into the dropbox on D2L. Type your answers in the boxes provided and use as much space as
necessary. If your study guide needs more work, I will send you feedback in D2L. You may make
improvements and resubmit the study guide for credit within one week of receiving the feedback.

Definitions

Protein Large, complex organic molecules made up of amino acids


A regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as
Hormone
blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action.
A substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a
Enzyme
specific biochemical reaction.
Antibodies Infection-fighting proteins.

Questions

1) There are over 200,000 different proteins that make up your body. List 8 different functions of those proteins
and summarize it’s role in the human body

Function Role
1) Structural Proteins 1) Build muscle, cartilage, ligaments, and bones
2) Growth and Maintenance 2) This typically happens in periods of illness, during
3) Balances Fluids pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
4) Maintains Proper pH 3) Albumin and globulin are proteins in the blood that
5) Provides Energy help maintain the body's fluid balance by attracting
6) Transports and Stores Nutrients and retaining water.
7) Acts as a Messenger 4) One way your body regulates pH is with proteins.
8) Bolsters Immune Health An example is hemoglobin, a protein that makes up
red blood cells.
5) The body uses amino acids from broken-down
skeletal muscle if carbohydrate storage is low. This can
occur after exhaustive exercise or if you don't consume
enough calories in general.
6) For example, hemoglobin is a protein that carries
oxygen from your lungs to body tissues. Glucose
transporters (GLUT) move glucose to your cells, while
lipoproteins transport cholesterol and other fats in
your blood.
7) Some proteins are hormones, which are chemical
messengers that aid communication between your
cells, tissues and organs.
8) Antibodies are proteins in the blood that help
protect your body from harmful invaders like bacteria
and viruses.

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2) Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in the food you eat. Describe the chemical structure of an
amino acid

Scientists now recognize twenty-two amino acids as the building blocks of proteins: the twenty common ones
and two more, selenocysteine and pyrrolysine. Amino acids have several functions. Their primary function is to
act as the monomer unit in protein synthesis.
Of the 21 amino acids common to all life forms, the nine amino acids humans cannot synthesize are
phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and histidine.
The alpha carbon is a chiral carbon atom, with the exception of glycine, which has two indistinguishable
hydrogen atoms on the alpha carbon. The freedom of rotation of the two bonds in amino acids allow them to
fold

3) Proteins are necessary in our diet. Meats provide the highest protein content, but many other sources of
protein exist. List 5 sources of proteins other than animal meat.

- Dry beans.
- Tofu
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Cheese

4) Foods can be classified as either high-quality proteins or low-quality proteins. Complete the table below by
explaining the difference between high and low quality proteins and giving 4 examples of high and low quality
protein foods (make sure to include some non-meat foods)

High Quality Proteins Low Quality Proteins


Description Are proteins that contain all the Are proteins that lack one or more
essential amino acids and are high essential amino acids and are low
biological value. biological value.

Food Sources 1) Milk 1) Legumes


2)Yogurt 2)Nuts
3)Eggs 3)Seeds
4)Meats 4)Grains

5) Proteins are denatured during food preparation and in our bodies during digestion. List three specific ways
proteins are denatured.

1) Changes in the pH
Changes in the pH affects the chemistry of amino acids. when acidic proton hydrogen ion attaches to a lone pair of
electrons they participate in hydrogen bonding hence can denature proteins
2) Increased temperature
Excess heat can disrupt hydrogen bonds and non-polar hydrophobic interactions. Heat increases the kinetic energy
and causes individual molecules to vibrate rapidly and violently hence rupturing the bond
3) Exposure to UV radiation
Specific amino acids can absorb the UV light and possibly transfer an electron to a nearby cysteine causing the to
break

6) Protein digestion is relatively simple compared to lipid and carbohydrate digestion. Lets say you just had a
barbecue for your neighbors and grilled everyone steaks. Explain how that steak was digested as it passes
through your digestive tract from your mouth into your stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Be sure to
explain the role of the liver and pancreas and the enzymes they secrete to digest proteins.

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Protein breakdown begins when you first start chewing. The two enzymes found in the saliva helps to break
down food, and saliva helps in swallowing. The food passes through the food pipe to the stomach, where the
digestion of proteins initially starts. Protein digestion takes place in the stomach and duodenum. Three main
enzymes, pepsin produced by the stomach and trypsin and chymotrypsin produced by the pancreas, digest food
proteins into polypeptides that are then smashed down by various exopeptidases and dipeptides into amino
acids.

Further digestion of proteins is also carried out in the small intestines with the pancreas and liver's help. They
produce enzymes that help in protein breakdown. The liver produces bile juice while the pancreas produces
pancreatic juice to help in protein breakdown. In the extensive intestine, digestion of proteins that escaped the
small intestines, bacterial enzymes, and the surviving pancreatic proteases and peptidases are carried out.

7) Health conditions related to proteins include food allergies, Celiac Disease, and Phenylketunuria (PKU).
Explain the causes and symptoms of each of these conditions by completing the table below.

Causes Symptoms
Food Allergies After intake of some foods like: - Itching
Peanuts, tree nuts, Eggs, Wheat, Soy, - Hives
And Diary milk , then exercise begins - Swelling in body parts
there can be an allergic reaction. - Nasal congestion or shortness of
breath
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea,
nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or fainting
Celicac Disease Gluten which is a protein in wheat, - Abdominal pain
barley, rye and other grains. - Anemia
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Itching, blister rash
- Headache
- Mouth ulcers
- Nausea
Phenylketunuria by a defect in the gene theat helps - A musty odor in the breath, skin
create enzyme needed to breakdown or urine
phenylalanine. - Skin rashes
- Neurological problems
- Intellectual disability
- Delayed development
- Behavioral, emotional and social
problems
- Abnormal small head

8) What sources of protein are recommended for a healthy diet?

The healthiest proteins recommended for healthier diets include animal meat, white-fleshed fish, white meat
poultry, daily, rabbit meat, and eggs.

9) Like any nutrient, having both too much or too little protein has negative effects on the body. List 4 negative
effects of excessive protein intake and protein deficiency

Excessive Protein Intake Protein Deficiency


1) Disorders of Renal Function. 1) kwashiorkor in children

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2) Increased Cancer Risk impaired mental health
3) Disorders of Liver Function 2)Edema
4) Coronary Artery Disease 3) Wasting and shrinkage of muscle tissues
4) Weakness of immune system.

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Common questions

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Amino acids have a central alpha carbon atom attached to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group that defines each amino acid. The structure allows amino acids to connect into polypeptide chains via peptide bonds, forming the primary structure of proteins. The diversity in R groups contributes to proteins' varied functions and properties .

Enzymes act as catalysts that accelerate biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required. This unique characteristic distinguishes them from other proteins, which may serve structural or signaling purposes. Enzymes are highly specific, each catalyzing a particular reaction or set of reactions, which ensures precise metabolic control .

Protein deficiency can lead to health issues such as kwashiorkor in children, edema, muscle wasting, weak immune system, and impaired mental health. These problems arise because proteins are critical for tissue growth, repair, and numerous bodily functions, including immune responses and enzyme production. A deficiency disrupts these processes, leading to serious health outcomes .

Structural proteins help build and maintain muscle, cartilage, ligaments, and bones, which are essential for the mechanical support and integrity of the body . They provide the necessary framework that supports cell shape and offers protection to tissues and organs. Without these proteins, the body would not have the structural integrity necessary for movement and protection .

Excessive protein intake can lead to various health issues, including renal function disorders, increased cancer risk, liver function disorders, and coronary artery disease. These adverse effects often result from the body's inability to process excessively high levels of protein efficiently, leading to an overload on organs like the kidneys and liver, increasing the risk of chronic diseases .

Antibodies are infection-fighting proteins that identify and bind to specific antigens on pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, marking them for destruction by immune cells. They play a crucial role in the immune system by helping recognize and neutralize foreign objects, preventing infections and diseases from spreading in the body .

High-quality proteins contain all the essential amino acids and have high biological value. Examples include milk, yogurt, eggs, and meats. Low-quality proteins lack one or more essential amino acids and include foods such as legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains. The presence or balance of essential amino acids determines the protein quality in dietary sources .

Proteins can act as hormones, which are chemical messengers that facilitate communication between cells, tissues, and organs. These protein hormones help regulate physiological processes, including growth, metabolism, and reproductive functions. For example, insulin, a protein hormone, helps regulate glucose levels in the blood. Protein interactions with hormone receptors further ensure specific and regulated bodily responses .

Protein digestion begins in the stomach, where pepsin breaks down proteins into polypeptides. In the small intestine, trypsin and chymotrypsin from the pancreas further digest these polypeptides into smaller peptides and amino acids. The liver produces bile, while the pancreas produces pancreatic juices, both aiding in the digestion process. These amino acids are then absorbed into the bloodstream .

Changes in pH can alter the chemistry of amino acids by affecting their ionization state, which influences hydrogen bonding. This can lead to denaturation, where proteins lose their functional three-dimensional shape, thus impacting their function. Enzymes lose catalytic activity, and structural proteins lose mechanical integrity, affecting metabolic and structural functions in biological systems .

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