Proteins Flashcards
how much of body weights proteins account for?
Protein 20%
Fat 10%
Water 65%
Minerals 4%
Carbs 1%
which chemist first discovered proteins in 1839?
Gerharld Mulder
what atoms make up a protein ?
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
The presence of which atom distinguish proteins from carbs and fat?
Nitrogen
what are amino acids
the basic building blocks of proteins
what do amino acid contain?
- 1 amine group - NH2
- 1 carboxylic Group - COOH
- 1 unique side group (R-group)
How many amino acids out of the 100 in nature do the human body require?
20 amino acids for protein synthesis
what is a protein and what is it made of? With which term can protein be interchanged with?
Proteins are Macromolecular polypeptides = large molecule made of many peptide-bonded amino acids
Polypeptide
what is so particular about the structure of the amino acid chain folding of a protein ?
The amino acids fold in a 3D structure linked to the function of the protein (lock and key)
give an example on a non-protein building block amino acid
Citrulline is a non-protein building block amino acid that plays a role in the urea cycle
which amino acids make up glutathione?
Cysteine - conditionally essential
Glutamic Acid - non-essential
Glycine - conditionally essential
How many amino acids are essential AA and name them
9 essential AA - PVT TIM HiLL
Phenylalanine
Valine
Threonine
Tryptophan - serotonin and melatonin
Isoleucine
Methionine - methyl donor
Histidine
Leucine
Lysine
what is a complete protein?
A protein that contains all the 9 EAAs (like animal protein and certain vegetarian proteins)
Which EAA is considered conditionally essential by some experts and why?
Histidine because it is synthesised in small amount by gut bacteria in adults and it does not impair protein synthesis when it is missing from the diet.
what causes protein denaturation? and Why a acid forming diet is problematic?
When exposed to heat, variation in pH, alcohol, heavy metals (aluminium)
=> lose its 3D structure, the protein unfold and lose its biological activity and function. They unravel.
Acid forming diet is problematic because it changed the pH around the cells and can impact the functioning of proteins within the cells
Why are protein denatured through digestion?
To facilitate the process of proteolysis which allow the protein to unfold for digestion of amino acids with the help of Pepsin enzymes
what is pepsin ideal pH
2 in the stomach
Name 3 function of proteins?
- Structure of body tissues - collagen
- Mouvement - Actin and myosin
- Carrier molecule - Haemoglobin (bind to O2)
- Storage molecule - Ferritin (bind to iron)
- Fluid balance - Albumin (bind to calcium, zinc and B6, steroids and fatty acids)
- Enzymes for reaction in the body - amylase
- Hormones - insulin, thyroid hormone (tyrosine), dopamine (tyrosine), adrenaline (tyrosine), serotonin and melatonin (tryptophan)
- Hormone receptors - cell membrane proteins are receptors for hormones
- Immune functions - antibodies IgG (virus and bacteria), IgA (saliva, tears, mucous), IgM (first to appear in antigen exposure) and IgE (allergies)
- Clotting mechanism - clotting factors
- Alternative energy source
What are the 6 conditionally essential AA
- Arginine
- Cysteine - taurine
- Glutamine - most abundant AA in the body
- Glycine - glutathione
- Proline
- Tyrosine - Thyroid hormone, dopamine, noradrenaline, epinephrine
what is the best buffer amino acid to regulate the acid/base balance and why
Histidine because can easily pick up and let go of H+ ions
Cysteine as well
give 3 protein related causes of oedema
kidney disease - protein loss
liver disease - inadequate protein synthesis
protein malnutrition - ascites (water more in peritoneal cavity)
What are glycoproteins? name 3
Glycoprotein are a protein bound to a sugar
- Mucins = in mucous and saliva
- ABO blood type antigens
- LH and FSH and TSH
- Major Histocompatibility Complex - antigen presentation
Describe & explain the 3 step process of protein metabolism
Protein metabolism = when we need to use protein for fuel or to convert protein into fat storage
Excessive protein from food will be transformed into energy
3 steps:
1. DEAMINATION - removal of the amine group
2. UREA CYCLE - conversion of ammonia formed during deamination to urea for safe removal
3. TRANSAMINATION - redistribution of AAs
Explain the process of Deamination in protein metabolism
1st step of protein metabolism
Removal of the nitrogen-containing amine group
Takes place in the liver
Purpose = for individual amino acids to be used as energy source or stored as fat
After deamination, the remaining fragment of amino acid can be used to produce glucose or ketones
Explain the urea cycle in protein metabolism
2nd step after deamination
Ammonia is formed during deamination and needs to be converted to urea for safe removal from the body by the kidney (urine)
Takes place in liver cells (hepatocytes)
Hepatocytes convert ammonia in urea (a water soluble compound)
what is hyperammonaemia and what are the signs and symptoms?
Hyperammonaemia is elevated ammonia in the blood when the urea cycle is impaired
Signs and symptoms:
- Chronic fatigue
- nausea and diarrhoea
- irritability
- poor concentration and confusion
- headache
- intolerance to high protein food
Explain the transamination in protein metabolism
Essential in the synthesis of some non-essential AA
Redistribution of AA. If a non essential AA is not available, body make it from another
AA+keto acid <=> AA+keto acid
Transaminase co factor is B6
What is protein turnover?
Protein in the body are continually made and broken down
example = enzymes may be recycled in minutes
which vitamin is a cofactor of transamination?
B6
what is the amino acid pool?
When proteins breakdown they free amino acids to join circulation = the amino acid pool = group of amino acids that stay in circulation for a period of time and are not stored
These amino acids will be then be utilised or excreted
how long do amino acids in the amino acid pool stay in circulation for?
EEA have a longer half life than non-EAAs
Why is it important to have a regular supply of protein in the diet?
Because amino acids stay in circulation for a short period of time and if they are not used they are excreted (not stored).
What happen if the amino acid pool does not contain the EAA the body needs?
The body will start to break down its own tissues to obtain EAA not in the current poll => muscle loss.
what is the impact of stress on skeletal muscles?
Stress causes protein loss in skeletal muscles due to the catabolic action of stress hormones
on going stress can impact collagen in the bones matrix => osteoporosis
What are protein sources? What food do not have proteins?
Whole food - even fruits
Abundant sources of protein include - legumes, nuts and seeds, greens, whole grains, eggs, fish, poultry and meat.
Processed food do not have protein
how much protein a day does the human body reabsorb from shed mucosal cell? How do you call these sources of protein?
50g/day of protein
Endogenous sources of protein
what is the issue with animal protein sources?
They require more energy to digest and can accumulate in the the intestinal wall impairing absorption.
what determine protein quality?
digestibility and amino acid composition
how do plant and animal protein digestibility varies?
gut function (HCl and digestive enzymes)
fibres presence
anti-nutrient factors in plant food (phytates and lectins)
How can you improve the digestibility of plant protein?
soak, sprout, ferment => can lower anti nutrient factors like lectins and phytates
why are plant proteins a superior choice to animal protein?
Because they contain fibres, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals
How to optimise protein digestion?
- chew
- no water with meal
- support stomach acid levels:
=> zinc and B6 rich foods
=> ACV
=> Bitter herbs and foods before meals (dandelion, rockets, watercress, artichoke, gentian, barbers bark, goldenseal)
=> Betaine hydrochloride supplements 600mg per capsule - start with one at the beginning of a meal before increasing ti max 5
B6 rich foods
whole grain, dark leafy green, banana, carrots, potatoes, sunflower seeds, walnuts, avocado, pulses and beans, lentils