Proteins Flashcards
What are the building blocks of protein?
Amino Acids tied together like a chain. the length of the chain is based on the body’s needs.
2 types of proteins
- Structural: tendons, ligaments, hair, scars
- Functional/ dynamic: antibodies, hormones, transport vehicles
Center of amino acid (AA)
carbon
how many directions can the following go in:
carbon
nitrogen
carbon 4
nitrogen 3, occasionally 4
how many groups does an amino acid have and what are they
- Amine group
- Acid group
- R group - always different, makes one AA differ from the other
- Hydrogen
there are 4 because its center is carbon
How many amino acids are there
22, 9 of them are essential
what are 5 examples of protein function?
- Growth - necessary for growth and repair
- Enzymes - need to break down food
- Hormones
- Antibodies - memory cells against disease are built on protein
- DNA - present in every cell
diseases caused by protein abnormalities
sickle cell anemia
down syndrome
what happens when you eat protein
Protein is broken down into AA, AA are absorbed directly into the blood, the stay in an AA “pool” til they are needed.
Denaturation
“changing or destroying the shape of protein permanently”
protein is a coil, and when its denatured it is as if it was straightened.
Once thats done, the body can break down the protein into AA.
What 3 things permanently change the shape of protein?
Acid - in the stomach
Heat - at 106*
Enzymes - break down the Polypeptides
protein digestion process
protein digestion starts in the stomach through the acid and enzymes. the pepsin in the stomach breaks down the protein peptides.
once broken down, the peptides moves to the SI where they are fully broken down into AA.
With regard to the Nitrogen component, what will an overconsumption of protein do
It will overwork the kidneys because when the Nitrogen component is broken down it is excreted as urine.
Animal protein vs. Plant protein
Animal proteins
- higher protein levels
- higher bioavailability of 90-100% (likelier to be absorbed by the body)
- have 9/9 of the essential AA
Plant proteins
- lower protein levels
- bioavailability is 80%
- does not offer all essential AA, only Quinoa includes all 9. it is improtant to mix and match to end up with all 9.
Diets relating to Protein
Vegetarian - No meat/fish/poultry
Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian - consumes eggs/ dairy
Pesco-Vegetarian - consumes fish
Vegan - No animal products
