01 Biochemistry For Optometrist Flashcards
Biochemistry
Study of how molecules/enzymes/etc [all non-living things] interact with each other to maintain homeostasis and create life
Metabolism
How organisms extract, transform, and use energy from the environment
ATP
Universal carrier of metabolic energy
Links metabolic pathways together
Catabolism
Degradation process
- releases energy by the breakdown of large molecules into smaller ones [typically through a pathway of connection reactions]
Anabolism
Synthesis
Using energy to make new products [also carried out by reactions linked together in a pathway]
Enzymes
Biological catalysts
Protein
Proteins
Made of amino acids
20 aa
How is sequence of amino acids in proteins determined ?
Via sequence of ribonucleotides [RNA-ribonucleases nucleic acid]
4 ribonucleotides
Adenylate
Guanylate
Uridylate
Cytidylate
How is sequence of ribonucleotides determined?
By DNA 9deoxyribonucleotides0
4 deoxyribonucleotides
Deoxyadenylate
Deoxyguanylate
Deoxythymidlate
Deoxycytidylate
Tears
Made of : water, lipids, proteins
What proteins are in tears?
Immunoglobin, lysozyme, mucin
Cornea
Made of collagen and proteoglycan to keep the cornea clear
Why does the cornea get cloudy?
Because it tends to collect water .
To remove the water ATP-driven pumps are needed
Collagen
Most abundant protein in the eye
Structural support
Proteoglycan
Proteins with glycosaminoglycans linked to them
They are space willing and attract water to help keep the collagen appropriately aligned
Aqueous
Provides the cornea with nutrients like:
Vitamin c
Antioxidants
Glucose
Helps maintain the pressure of the eye
Lens
Contain specialized proteins :
Crystallin
Crystallin
Protein that is highly ordered
Function: to increase the refractive index of the lens media
What are cataracts
They occur when crystallin become disordered or aggregated
Vitreous
Contain collagen , proteoglycans
Mechanical support and shock absorber against mechanical impact [gel like]
Retina
Has special proteins that convert light into a biological response
- rhodopsin
- photopsins
[NOTE: these proteins use the retinal to absorb Light]
[above are proteins found in rods and cones membranes]
Photopsins
Erythrolabe
Cyanolabe
Chlorolabe
Retinal
Derivative of vitamin A
From diet
When it absorbs light, it triggers a conformational change in the attached protein, this leads to a cellular response involving other enzymes and proteins
Melanopsin
Protein found in the photosensitive ganglion cells of the retina
Uses retinal to absorb light
Used to control the papillary light reflex, circadian rhythms, and other non-visual functions
