Mata, Reygie R.

; MT 8:30-10; March 18, 2020

Lipids; Summary and Reflection

Lipid, any of a diverse group of organic compounds including fats, oils, hormones, and certain

components of membranes that are grouped together because they do not interact appreciably

with water. One type of lipid, the triglycerides, is sequestered as fat in adipose cells, which serve as

the energy-storage depot for organisms and also provide thermal insulation. Some lipids such as

steroid hormones serve as chemical messengers between cells, tissues, and organs, and others

communicate signals between biochemical systems within a single cell. The membranes of cells

and organelles (structures within cells) are microscopically thin structures formed from two

layers of phospholipid molecules. Membranes function to separate individual cells from their

environments and to compartmentalize the cell interior into structures that carry out special

functions. So important is this compartmentalizing function that membranes, and the lipids that

form them, must have been essential to the origin of life itself.

Understanding lipids can help us many ways. We are always eating different kind of food,

sometimes we are satisfied with the labels that the factory has given but we don’t know that it

can somehow put a bad effect in our health. If we don’t know the words or terms that are

included in the ingredients, we don’t care as long as the food is delicious. But, as we discuss this

lesson, I have learned that we should be cautious of what we are eating, manufacturers might put

words that can fool us so that we will eat their product, they don’t care as long as they are

earning money, but as human beings it is our job to learn and to understand this kind of things

because we are an intellectual beings made by God. We are responsible of what we are eating

and what effects it can do to our body. We should know what “essential” foods we should eat for
it is needed by the body. Learning this can help us to be more healthy and be a good cause to

other people.
Proteins; Summary and Reflection

Proteins are macromolecules formed by amino acids. A total of 20 different amino acids exist in

proteins and hundreds to thousands of these amino acids are attached to each other in long chains

to form a protein. Amino acids can be released from proteins by hydrolysis. (Hydrolysis is the

cleavage of a covalent bond by addition of water in adequate conditions.)

Due to their large size, proteins obligatorily form colloids when they are dispersed in a suitable

solvent. This property characteristically distinguishes proteins from solutions containing small

size molecules.

Since amino acids are the “building blocks” for proteins, their structure and properties will be

considered first. Here are the example of proteins and their functions:

Antibody - Antibodies bind to specific foreign particles, such as viruses and bacteria, to help

protect the body. Example is Immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Enzyme - Enzymes carry out almost all of the thousands of chemical reactions that take place in

cells. They also assist with the formation of new molecules by reading the genetic information

stored in DNA. Example is Phenylalanine hydroxylase.

Messengerv-vMessenger proteins, such as some types of hormones, transmit signals to

coordinate biological processes between different cells, tissues, and organs. Example is growth

hormone.

Structural component - These proteins provide structure and support for cells. On a larger scale,

they also allow the body to move. Example is actin.

Transport/storage - These proteins bind and carry atoms and small molecules within cells and

throughout the body. Example is ferritin.

Throughout this lesson, I have learned how we really need proteins and without a healthy amount

of amino acids from proteins in our diet, our body begins to break down our bodies’ protein such

as muscles and organs to get the desired amino acids we need. There are also many things I have

read from the internet, one is that protein shakes and muscle milk actually don’t meet your

protein needs without spending a huge amount of money and time. We all know that meat is

good source of protein but we can also get a good amount of protein through eggs and nuts.

Even though you can get an equal amount of protein and nutrition from animal and plant sources,

the difference between them is that animal sources are considered “complete” and plants

“incomplete”. Plant sources are considered incomplete because of the lack of one or more

essential acids.  However, I have also learned that protein intake depends on how much we

weigh and for our daily activities. Too much or too low amount of protein we intake can be a bad

effect on our health.