Amino Acid Pools, Protein Functions & Thesis Drafting

Amino Acid Pool

• The amino acid pool is the total amount of free amino acids available in the cytoplasm of cells.

Sources of Amino Acids

• Dietary Intake: Amino acids are absorbed from digested food, increasing the amino acid pool.
• Internal Protein Breakdown: The body can break down its proteins (e.g., muscle proteins) to release amino acids into the pool.

Enzymes and Their Significance

• Enzymes are catalysts that facilitate metabolic reactions within the body.
• They enable chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required.
• Without enzymes, chemical reactions would not occur efficiently.
• Enzyme dysfunction can affect water distribution and molecule transport in and out of cells.
• Renaturation: Enzymes can sometimes be rebuilt or renatured, but structural damage can affect their function.

Membrane Proteins

• Membrane proteins regulate the movement of molecules (e.g., water, chemicals) in and out of cells.
• They act as channels or doors embedded in cell membranes.

Antibodies and Antigens

• Antibodies are produced by the immune system to react against foreign triggers called antigens.

Protein Utilization for Energy (ATP)

• Using proteins to make ATP is not the primary function.
• Only about 10% of dietary proteins are used for cellular energy daily.
• The liver plays a crucial role in this process.
• Inefficiency: Fatty acids are preferred over proteins for energy production due to the high carbon content in fatty acids.

Emaciation and Sarcopenia

• Emaciation: A state of wasting away, characterized by muscle loss.
• Sarcopenia: The age-related loss of muscle mass.

Essay Writing - Thesis

• Claim must justify your point.
• The three reasons of why something will go on the thesis.
• Add reasons to topic.
• Thesis expands topic sentence in the paper.