Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an essential amino acid that the human body cannot synthesize and must be obtained from the diet?
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2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components
Proteins
1:15 minutesProblem 27
Textbook Question
After you eat a protein bar, which chemical reactions introduced in this chapter must occur for the amino acids in the protein bar to be converted into proteins in your body cells?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that proteins in the protein bar are broken down into amino acids during digestion. This process is called hydrolysis, where enzymes like pepsin and trypsin catalyze the breakdown of peptide bonds in proteins.
Once amino acids are absorbed into the bloodstream, they are transported to body cells. Inside the cells, amino acids are used as building blocks for protein synthesis.
Protein synthesis occurs in two main stages: transcription and translation. During transcription, the DNA in the cell nucleus provides the instructions to create messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA carries the genetic code to the ribosomes.
During translation, the ribosomes use the mRNA sequence to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain. Transfer RNA (tRNA) brings the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome, where they are joined together by peptide bonds in a process called dehydration synthesis.
The polypeptide chain undergoes folding and modifications to become a functional protein. This process ensures that the amino acids from the protein bar are converted into proteins that the body can use for various functions, such as enzymes, structural components, and signaling molecules.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Protein Synthesis
Protein synthesis is the biological process through which cells generate new proteins. It involves two main stages: transcription, where the DNA sequence is copied to messenger RNA (mRNA), and translation, where ribosomes read the mRNA to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain, ultimately forming a functional protein.
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Amino Acid Metabolism
Amino acid metabolism refers to the biochemical processes that involve the breakdown and utilization of amino acids. After consuming a protein bar, the body digests the proteins into amino acids, which are then used for various functions, including energy production, synthesis of new proteins, and serving as precursors for other biomolecules.
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Enzymatic Reactions
Enzymatic reactions are biochemical processes facilitated by enzymes, which are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body. In the context of protein digestion and synthesis, enzymes such as proteases break down proteins into amino acids, while other enzymes are involved in linking these amino acids together to form new proteins.
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