2.4 Macronutrients: Protein

Question 1

What are the main functions of proteins?

Answer 1

1. body structure
2. body functions
3. fluid balance
4. hormone and enzyme production
5. fuel for cells

Question 2

What is an amino acid?

Answer 2

building blocks of protein formed mostly of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen

Question 3

How many different amino acids are there?

Answer 3

20

Question 4

What are essential amino acids? How many?

Answer 4

nine; must consume in our diet and our bodies cannot naturally synthesize them

Question 5

What are nonessential amino acids? How many?

Answer 5

11; body can manufacture, derive, or convert them from existing matter

Question 6

How are amino acids held together?

Answer 6

peptide bonds

Question 7

What determines the function of proteins?

Answer 7

shape/folding

Question 8

What is denaturation?

Answer 8

process of disrupting and destroying a protein’s structure

Question 9

What can cause denaturation?

Answer 9

heat
enzymes
acid
agitation

Question 10

When does digestion of proteins begin?

Answer 10

cooking will denature proteins

Question 11

What is pepsin?

Answer 11

enzymes produced by the stomach that further denatures the protein in the stomach

Question 12

What is gastrin?

Answer 12

released when we think about eating food, activates pepsin when released

Question 13

Where is gastrin and pepsin released?

Answer 13

stomach

Question 14

What is CCK?

Answer 14

cholecystokinin; released in small intestine, travels to pancreas, and causes the release of trpysin

Question 15

What is trypsin?

Answer 15

enzyme that braeks the chain of amino acids into smaller units

Question 16

Where are amino acids absorbed?

Answer 16

portal vein

Question 17

In the event of excess protein, what can occur?

Answer 17

can be converted into fat for long term storage