Protein (Post-Midterm) Flashcards
What is the main difference between proteins and carbohydrates or fats?
Proteins consist of 16% nitrogen (or 6.25g nitrogen) and are not stored in the body for energy.
What is the recommended macronutrient intake of protein?
Protein should make up 10-35% of macronutrient intake.
What percentage of the human body is made up of protein?
Protein makes up 40% of skeletal muscle, 25% of body organs, and 35% of skin and blood.
What are the three main functions of proteins?
: Proteins have structural, regulatory, and energy functions.
What are examples of structural proteins?
Examples of structural proteins include actin (contractile), myosin, collagen, elastin, and keratin.
What are examples of regulatory proteins?
Examples of regulatory proteins include enzymes, catalysts hormones, and transporters.
What is the primary structure of a protein?
The primary structure refers to the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
What is the secondary structure of a protein?
The secondary structure refers to the local folding patterns of the polypeptide chain, such as alpha-helix and beta-pleated sheet.
What is the tertiary structure of a protein?
The tertiary structure refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a protein, which is determined by interactions between amino acid residues.
What is the quaternary structure of a protein?
The quaternary structure refers to the arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains in a protein complex.
What are essential amino acids?
Essential amino acids are amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet.
What is the primary function of protein digestion?
The main goal of protein digestion is to transform proteins into amino acids, dipeptides, or tripeptides.
What enzyme is responsible for protein digestion in the stomach?
Pepsin, activated by hydrochloric acid, hydrolyzes peptide bonds in proteins.
Where does major protein digestion occur in the digestive system?
Major protein digestion occurs in the small intestine.
What are the end products of protein digestion?
The end products of protein digestion are free amino acids, dipeptides, and tripeptides.
What are the exogenous sources of amino acids in the diet?
Exogenous sources of amino acids include animal-sourced foods (meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs) and plant-sourced foods (soy milk, tofu, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds).
What are the endogenous sources of amino acids in the GI tract?
Endogenous sources of amino acids in the GI tract include desquamated mucosal cells and digestive enzymes and glycoproteins secreted by various organs.
What is the function of enteropeptidase in protein digestion?
Enteropeptidase, released from the brush border membrane in the small intestine, activates trypsin, which further activates other pancreatic enzymes involved in protein digestion.
How are pancreatic enzymes released during protein digestion?
Pancreatic enzymes are released as zymogens, inactive forms that require activation.
What is the role of aminopeptidases, dipeptidylaminopeptidases, and tripeptidases in the small intestine?
These brush border enzymes hydrolyze peptides into free amino acids, dipeptides, and tripeptides for absorption.
Protein structural function
Contratile proteins (actin, myosin) in cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscles
Fibrous proteins (collagen, elastin, keratin) in bone, teeth, skin, strong structure
Protein regulatory function
Enzyme/ catalyst: for reactions and rate of reaction, act as cofactor
Hormones/ messengers: chemical messengaers like insulin, glucagon, that regulate metabolic processes
Transporters: regulate nutrient entry in cell membrane, in blood (albumin, transferrin), immunoglobins, and buffers
Fluid balance: attracts water and contributes to osmotic pressure
Protein energy function
Source of energy during excessive intake, metabolized energy (TCA cycle, gluocneogenesis, fatty acid synthesis)
Protein digestion in oral cavity
Mechanical breaking down of protein containing food (teeth, tongue, saliva), preps food for stomach
Protein digestion in stomach
Release of HCl from parietal cells (through gatrin, acetylcholine, and histamine) to denature and unfold protein, does not break down peptide bonds
Pepsingen from chief cells (through HCl, pepsin) hydrolyzes peptide bonds into free amino acids
Protein digestion in small intestine
Secretin and cholescystokinin stimulate secretion of pancreatic juice from acinar cells with bicaronate, digestive enzymes, water, electrolytes
Stimulates secretion of enteropeptidase from brush border that breaks peptide bondsinto amino acids, dipeptides and tripeptides (with peptidases)
What are the different absorption mechanisms for the end-products of protein digestion?
- Amino acid transport and peptide transport.
- Amino acid transport occurs along the small intestine, while peptide transport has lower affinity for peptides longer than 3 amino acids.
What are the physiologic consequences of incomplete protein digestion?
Incomplete protein digestion can lead to acute immune reactions, development of sensitivity to polypeptides, and idiosyncratic drug reactions.
What is the beneficial effect of breastmilk versus infant formula for the prevention of symptoms?
Breastmilk can reduce the risk of developing allergy disease in infants compared to infant formula.
What are the alternatives for breastmilk in infants with a high risk of atopic diseases?
Hydrolyzed proteins in infant formula can be considered as an alternative for breastmilk in infants with a high risk of atopic diseases.
Describe the different fates of absorbed amino acids and di-/tripeptides.
Absorbed di-/tripeptides are cleaved to free amino acids in enterocytes, which are either used by enterocytes or transported in the portal blood.
Which amino acids are majorly metabolized in the enterocyte?
Glutamine, glutamate, aspartate, arginine, and methionine.
What is the significance of these essential amino acid pathways in case of intestinal injury?
In case of intestinal injury, arginine becomes a conditionally essential amino acid, and patients may require arginine or citrulline supplementation in their diet.
Describe the function of glutamine in intestinal cell metabolism.
Glutamine is a primary source of energy, stimulates GI mucosal cell proliferation, prevents atrophy of gut mucosa, and creates a barrier against bacterial translocation.
Describe the function of glutamate in intestinal cell metabolism.
Glutamate is used for energy and the formation of proline, ornithine, and glutathione.
What is the end product of protein digestion?
Amino acids, dipeptides, and tripeptides.
Explain the absorption mechanisms for peptides and amino acids.
- Peptides are absorbed through peptide transporters, with lower affinity for peptides longer than 3 amino acids.
- Amino acids require carriers for active transport, using specific transport systems.
What are the consequences of proteins entering the bloodstream bypassing the usual absorption mechanisms?
Consequences include acute immune reactions, sensitivity to polypeptides, and idiosyncratic drug reactions.
Due to polypeptides or proteins directly entering blood stream, through leaks in epithelial cells or vesicles
Who are the vulnerable population groups for proteins entering the bloodstream bypassing the usual absorption mechanisms?
Those with atopic heredity, infants who receive infant formula and are not solely breast-fed, and those with certain GI tract diseases.
How are di- and tripeptides hydrolyzed in enterocytes?
Di- and tripeptides are hydrolyzed to free amino acids by aminopeptidase in enterocytes.
What happens to absorbed amino acids in enterocytes?
Absorbed amino acids are either used by enterocytes for protein synthesis, nitrogen-containing compounds, and energy, or transported in the portal blood.
What is the primary source of energy in intestinal cell metabolism?
Glutamine is the primary source of energy in intestinal cell metabolism.
Which amino acids are required for the synthesis of glutathione?
Glutathione is formed from glutamate, glycine, and cysteine.
What is the significance of methionine in intestinal cell metabolism?
Methionine is a precursor for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which is involved in various metabolic reactions, including DNA methylation.
Describe the process of cysteine formation.
Cysteine can be formed from methionine via the trans-sulfuration pathway, which is vitamin B-6 dependent.
What are the major metabolites of methionine in the enterocyte?
Methionine is transformed into cysteine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which is involved in various metabolic reactions.