<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

The functions of proteins

Proteins have a number of functions in living organisms.

  • Structural proteins such as collagen in animal connective tissue and keratin in hair, horns and feather quills, all provide support.
  • Storage proteins such as albumin in egg white provide a source of energy. Plants store proteins in their seeds to provide energy for the new growing plant.
  • Transport proteins transport other substances in the body. Haemoglobin in the blood for example, is a protein that contains iron. Haemoglobin has an affinity (attraction) for oxygen and so this is how oxygen is transported around the body in the blood.
  • Hormonal proteins coordinate the body's activities. Insulin for example, is a hormonal protein that controls the sugar levels in the blood.
  • Enzymes are chemical catalysts and speed up chemical reactions. Digestive enzymes such as amylase in your saliva, help to break down polymers in food. Enzymes play an important role in all cellular reactions such as respiration, photosynthesis and many others.

Research project : macromolecules in our daily diet

  1. In order to keep our bodies healthy, it is important that we eat a balanced diet with the right amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Fats are an important source of energy, they provide insulation for the body, and they also provide a protective layer around many vital organs. Our bodies also need certain essential vitamins and minerals. Most food packaging has a label that provides this information. Choose a number of different food items that you eat. Look at the food label for each, and then complete the following table:
    Food Carbohydrates (%) Proteins (%) Fats (%)
    1. Which food type contains the largest proportion of protein?
    2. Which food type contains the largest proportion of carbohydrates?
    3. Which of the food types you have listed would you consider to be the 'healthiest'? Give a reason for your answer.
  2. In an effort to lose weight, many people choose to diet . There are many diets on offer, each of which is based on particular theories about how to lose weight most effectively. Look at the list of diets below:
    • Vegetarian diet
    • Low fat diet
    • Atkin's diet
    • Weight Watchers
    For each of these diets, answer the following questions:
    1. What theory of weight loss does each type of diet propose?
    2. What are the benefits of the diet?
    3. What are the potential problems with the diet?

Carbohydrates and proteins

  1. Give the structural formula for each of the following:
    1. A polymer chain, consisting of three glucose molecules.
    2. A polypeptide chain, consisting of two molecules of alanine and one molecule of serine.
  2. Write balanced equations to show the polymerisation reactions that produce the polymers described above.
  3. The following polypeptide is the end product of a polymerisation reaction:
    1. Give the structural formula of the monomers that make up the polypeptide.
    2. On the structural formula of the first monomer, label the amino group and the carboxyl group.
    3. What is the chemical formula for the carbon side chain in the second monomer?
    4. Name the bond that forms between the monomers of the polypeptide.

Questions & Answers

I'm interested in biological psychology and cognitive psychology
Tanya Reply
what does preconceived mean
sammie Reply
physiological Psychology
Nwosu Reply
How can I develope my cognitive domain
Amanyire Reply
why is communication effective
Dakolo Reply
Communication is effective because it allows individuals to share ideas, thoughts, and information with others.
effective communication can lead to improved outcomes in various settings, including personal relationships, business environments, and educational settings. By communicating effectively, individuals can negotiate effectively, solve problems collaboratively, and work towards common goals.
it starts up serve and return practice/assessments.it helps find voice talking therapy also assessments through relaxed conversation.
miss
Every time someone flushes a toilet in the apartment building, the person begins to jumb back automatically after hearing the flush, before the water temperature changes. Identify the types of learning, if it is classical conditioning identify the NS, UCS, CS and CR. If it is operant conditioning, identify the type of consequence positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment
Wekolamo Reply
please i need answer
Wekolamo
because it helps many people around the world to understand how to interact with other people and understand them well, for example at work (job).
Manix Reply
Agreed 👍 There are many parts of our brains and behaviors, we really need to get to know. Blessings for everyone and happy Sunday!
ARC
A child is a member of community not society elucidate ?
JESSY Reply
Isn't practices worldwide, be it psychology, be it science. isn't much just a false belief of control over something the mind cannot truly comprehend?
Simon Reply
compare and contrast skinner's perspective on personality development on freud
namakula Reply
Skinner skipped the whole unconscious phenomenon and rather emphasized on classical conditioning
war
explain how nature and nurture affect the development and later the productivity of an individual.
Amesalu Reply
nature is an hereditary factor while nurture is an environmental factor which constitute an individual personality. so if an individual's parent has a deviant behavior and was also brought up in an deviant environment, observation of the behavior and the inborn trait we make the individual deviant.
Samuel
I am taking this course because I am hoping that I could somehow learn more about my chosen field of interest and due to the fact that being a PsyD really ignites my passion as an individual the more I hope to learn about developing and literally explore the complexity of my critical thinking skills
Zyryn Reply
good👍
Jonathan
and having a good philosophy of the world is like a sandwich and a peanut butter 👍
Jonathan
generally amnesi how long yrs memory loss
Kelu Reply
interpersonal relationships
Abdulfatai Reply
What would be the best educational aid(s) for gifted kids/savants?
Heidi Reply
treat them normal, if they want help then give them. that will make everyone happy
Saurabh
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Siyavula textbooks: grade 12 physical science. OpenStax CNX. Aug 03, 2011 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11244/1.2
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Siyavula textbooks: grade 12 physical science' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask