Protein from Nutrition Book Flashcards
(44 cards)
Protein in food provides the _ _ necessary for _ and _ body tissue.
amino acids
building
maintaining
Protein balance, both within the body and in the diet, is
essential to life and heatlth
Amino acids as
basic building units
Each protein is composed of
hundreds of amino acids
Amino acids form unique chain sequences to form
specific proteins
When protein foods are eaten,
proteins are broken down into amino acids
Amino acids are reassembled in the body
to form a variety of proteins
Proteins are relatively large, complex molecules and may be subject to
mutations or malformations
Amino Acids
- named for chemical structure
- basic structure of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
- primary source of nitrogen in diet
- some contain small amounts of valuable minerals
Classes of Amino Acids
Indispensable amino acids
Dispensable amino acids
Conditionally indispensable
Indispensable amino acids
body cannot manufacture in sufficient quantity
Dispensable amino acids
body can synthesize from indispensable
Conditionally indispensable amino acids
normally synthesized but some health conditions may require dietary intake
Protein Balance
catabolism: breakdown
anabolism: resynthesis
Nitrogen Balance (intake = excretion)
Positive nitrogen balance (body stores more than it excretes)
Negative nitrogen balance (body takes in less than it excretes)
5 functions of Proteins
- primary tissue building
- water and pH balance
- metabolism and transportation
- body defense system
- energy system
Protein is the fundamental
structural material of every cell
Comprises bulk of
muscles internal organs brain nerves blood plasma
Protein repairs
worn-out, wasted, or damaged tissue
Plasma proteins attract water, resulting in
maintenance of normal circulation
Proteins have a unique structure to act as
buffering agents (making an acidic body more basic and a basic body more acidic)
Metabolism and Transportation
Enzymes
Transport agents
Hormones
Metabolism and Transportation Enzymes (Digestive Enzymes)
amylases, lipases, proteases
Metabolism and Transportation Transport agents
lipoproteins
hemoglobin