Collagen is what type of macromolecule

Carbohydrates serve other functions in different animals. Arthropods, such as insects, spiders, and crabs, have an outer skeleton, called the exoskeleton, which protects their internal body parts. This exoskeleton is made of the biological macromolecule chitin , which is a nitrogenous carbohydrate.

It is made of repeating units of a modified sugar containing nitrogen. Thus, through differences in molecular structure, carbohydrates are able to serve the very different functions of energy storage starch and glycogen and structural support and protection cellulose and chitin.

Registered Dietitian: Obesity is a worldwide health concern, and many diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, are becoming more prevalent because of obesity. This is one of the reasons why registered dietitians are increasingly sought after for advice. Registered dietitians help plan food and nutrition programs for individuals in various settings. They often work with patients in health-care facilities, designing nutrition plans to prevent and treat diseases.

For example, dietitians may teach a patient with diabetes how to manage blood-sugar levels by eating the correct types and amounts of carbohydrates. Dietitians may also work in nursing homes, schools, and private practices. In addition, registered dietitians must complete a supervised internship program and pass a national exam. Those who pursue careers in dietetics take courses in nutrition, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, and human physiology.

Dietitians must become experts in the chemistry and functions of food proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The underground storage bulb of the camas flower shown below has been an important food source for many of the Indigenous peoples of Vancouver Island and throughout the western area of North America.

Camas bulbs are still eaten as a traditional food source and the preparation of the camas bulbs relates to this text section about carbohydrates. Most often plants create starch as the stored form of carbohydrate. Some plants, like camas create inulin. Inulin is used as dietary fibre however, it is not readily digested by humans. If you were to bite into a raw camas bulb it would taste bitter and has a gummy texture.

The method used by Indigenous peoples to make camas both digestible and tasty is to bake the bulbs slowly for a long period in an underground firepit covered with specific leaves and soil. The heat acts like our pancreatic amylase enzyme and breaks down the long chains of inulin into digestible mono and di-saccharides. Properly baked, the camas bulbs taste like a combination of baked pear and cooked fig. It is important to note that while the blue camas is a food source, it should not be confused with the white death camas, which is particularly toxic and deadly.

The flowers look different, but the bulbs look very similar. Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are united by a common feature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include only nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of lipids called fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals.

For example, they help keep aquatic birds and mammals dry because of their water-repelling nature. Lipids are also the building blocks of many hormones and are an important constituent of the plasma membrane. Lipids include fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids. A fat molecule, such as a triglyceride, consists of two main components—glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol is an organic compound with three carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms, and three hydroxyl —OH groups.

In a fat molecule, a fatty acid is attached to each of the three oxygen atoms in the —OH groups of the glycerol molecule with a covalent bond. During this covalent bond formation, three water molecules are released. The three fatty acids in the fat may be similar or dissimilar. These fats are also called triglycerides because they have three fatty acids. Some fatty acids have common names that specify their origin. For example, palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, is derived from the palm tree.

Arachidic acid is derived from Arachis hypogaea , the scientific name for peanuts. Fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated. In a fatty acid chain, if there are only single bonds between neighboring carbons in the hydrocarbon chain, the fatty acid is saturated. Saturated fatty acids are saturated with hydrogen; in other words, the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton is maximized.

When the hydrocarbon chain contains a double bond, the fatty acid is an unsaturated fatty acid. Most unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and are called oils. If there is one double bond in the molecule, then it is known as a monounsaturated fat e. Saturated fats tend to get packed tightly and are solid at room temperature.

Animal fats with stearic acid and palmitic acid contained in meat, and the fat with butyric acid contained in butter, are examples of saturated fats. Mammals store fats in specialized cells called adipocytes, where globules of fat occupy most of the cell.

In plants, fat or oil is stored in seeds and is used as a source of energy during embryonic development. Unsaturated fats or oils are usually of plant origin and contain unsaturated fatty acids. Olive oil, corn oil, canola oil, and cod liver oil are examples of unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats help to improve blood cholesterol levels, whereas saturated fats contribute to plaque formation in the arteries, which increases the risk of a heart attack.

In the food industry, oils are artificially hydrogenated to make them semi-solid, leading to less spoilage and increased shelf life.

Simply speaking, hydrogen gas is bubbled through oils to solidify them. During this hydrogenation process, double bonds of the cis -conformation in the hydrocarbon chain may be converted to double bonds in the trans -conformation. This forms a trans -fat from a cis -fat. The orientation of the double bonds affects the chemical properties of the fat. Margarine, some types of peanut butter, and shortening are examples of artificially hydrogenated trans -fats.

Many fast food restaurants have recently eliminated the use of trans -fats, and U. Essential fatty acids are fatty acids that are required but not synthesized by the human body. Consequently, they must be supplemented through the diet. Omega-3 fatty acids fall into this category and are one of only two known essential fatty acids for humans the other being omega-6 fatty acids. They are a type of polyunsaturated fat and are called omega-3 fatty acids because the third carbon from the end of the fatty acid participates in a double bond.

Salmon, trout, and tuna are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are important in brain function and normal growth and development. They may also prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of cancer. Like carbohydrates, fats have received a lot of bad publicity. However, fats do have important functions. Fats serve as long-term energy storage. They also provide insulation for the body.

Phospholipids are the major constituent of the plasma membrane. Like fats, they are composed of fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol or similar backbone.

Instead of three fatty acids attached, however, there are two fatty acids and the third carbon of the glycerol backbone is bound to a phosphate group. The phosphate group is modified by the addition of an alcohol. A phospholipid has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. The fatty acid chains are hydrophobic and exclude themselves from water, whereas the phosphate is hydrophilic and interacts with water.

Cells are surrounded by a membrane, which has a bilayer of phospholipids. The fatty acids of phospholipids face inside, away from water, whereas the phosphate group can face either the outside environment or the inside of the cell, which are both aqueous.

Because fat is the most calorie dense food and having a storable, high calorie compact energy source would be important to survival. The nature of its fat also made it an important trade good. Like salmon, ooligan returns to its birth stream after years at sea. Its arrival in the early spring made it the first fresh food of the year. As you learned above all fats are hydrophobic water hating.

To isolate the fat, the fish is boiled and the floating fat skimmed off. Importantly it is a solid grease at room temperature. Gigantic molecules, called macromolecules, populate a cell and provide it with important functions for life. For example, macromolecules provide structural support, a source of stored fuel, the ability to store and retrieve genetic information, and the ability to speed biochemical reactions. Four major types of macromolecules—proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids—play these important roles in the life of a cell.

In this tutorial, we examine the structures and functions of nucleic acids and proteins. The 20 different amino acids used to make all proteins differ only in their side chains, and the properties of these side chains account for the great diversity of protein structure and function. Click the buttons to see the side chains of the amino acids. Amino acid sequences are encoded in the DNA of genes. It is the main component of skin, bones, and teeth.

This protein is composed of three helical polypeptide chains that form a stiff, supercoiled cable. The type of helix in each polypeptide is unique to collagen and results from collagen's unusual amino acid composition. More extensive gaps are usually filled with substances such as fat, silicone, or implants. Collagen can help heal wounds by attracting new skin cells to the wound site. It promotes healing and provides a platform for new tissue growth. Collagen dressings are not recommended for third-degree burns, wounds covered in dry eschar, or for patients who may be sensitive to products sourced from cows.

Collagen-based membranes have been used in periodontal and implant therapy to promote the growth of specific types of cell. In oral surgery, collagen barriers can prevent fast-growing cells around the gum from migrating to a wound in a tooth. This preserves a space where tooth cells have the chance to regenerate. Collagen-based membranes can aid healing in these cases and they are resorbable, so this barrier does not need to be surgically removed after the main operation.

Collagen tissue grafts from donors have been used in peripheral nerve regeneration, in vascular prostheses, and in arterial reconstruction. While collagen prostheses are compatible with the human body, some have been found to be thrombogenic, or likely to cause coagulation of the blood.

A review found that supplements containing collagen helped decrease painful symptoms and improving joint function in people with osteoarthritis. As the supplement was absorbed, collagen accumulated in the cartilage, and this helped to rebuild the extracellular matrix. Many products containing collagen, including creams and powders, claim to revitalize the skin by increasing collagen levels within the body. This is unlikely , however, as collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin.

Any benefit is probably due to the moisturizing effects of these products. They do not directly increase collagen. Such treatments are also not classified as drugs, so any claims regarding their efficacy do not need to be scientifically proven. Caution is advised when using these products. Laser therapy can help treat stretch marks, as it can stimulate the growth of collagen, elastin, and melanin. Some factors can deplete the levels of collagen within the body. Avoiding them could keep the skin healthy for longer.

High sugar consumption : A high-sugar diet increases the rate of glycation, a process where blood sugars attach to proteins to form new molecules called advanced glycation end products AGEs.

Smoking : Many chemicals present in tobacco smoke damage both collagen and elastin in the skin. Nicotine also narrows the blood vessels in the outer layers of the skin.

This compromises skin health by reducing the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the skin. Sunlight : Ultraviolet rays in sunlight cause collagen to break down more rapidly , damaging collagen fibers and causing abnormal elastin to build up.

The UV rays in sunlight damage the collagen in the dermis, and the skin rebuilds incorrectly, forming wrinkles. Autoimmune disorders : Some autoimmune disorders cause antibodies to target collagen. Genetic changes can affect the extracellular matrix. The collagen that is produced can be lower, or it may be dysfunctional, mutated collagen.

The aging process causes collagen levels to deplete naturally over time. There is no way to prevent this.