Question

Part II

After working through the macromolecules in your friend’s extremely pale burrito, you look at her and think you might have an idea about what is going on. You ask Maria, “Do you usually eat like this?” “Yup,” she says, “I love all the carbs, rice, and bread, as well as cheese. Sometimes I eat a piece of fruit or some carrot sticks. And energy drinks!” You then point out to your friend that she seems to be getting very little protein, a major class of macromolecules. But she is getting plenty of carbohydrates and lipids in the form of animal fats.

1. While your body can convert the monomers of macromolecules from one to the other, it has to have the raw materials in the form of the appropriate atoms. You explain to your friend that when she eats proteins, they are broken down into amino acids through the process of INSERT ANSWER and can then be rebuilt into new proteins through the process of INSERT ANSWER.

1. If your body does not take in protein, but only carbohydrates and lipids, what atoms will it be missing? Hint: There are two, and you can figure this out by comparing the structures of the monomers for proteins and carbohydrates as well as the basic structure of lipids.
   INSERT ANSWER

2. For the above atoms, how many electrons are in the outer shell?
   INSERT ANSWER

3. For the above atoms, what type of bond will they make within the amino acid monomer?
   INSERT ANSWER

4. Even if your friend does obtain the correct atoms, there are still a couple amino acids that your body cannot manufacture from scratch, but must be ingeste What are these amino acids?
   INSERT ANSWER

2. Why might a lack of protein or the wrong types of proteins lead to your friend’s fatigue?
   INSERT ANSWER

Part III

“Well,” Maria states as she finishes her burrito, “I might have to adjust my diet a little, but I still think that caffeine will help me get the energy I need short term. And I might have become reliant on Diet Coke with all these late nights at work.”

You think about this. You don’t remember caffeine as a macromolecule you learned about. But you do remember talking about a class of macromolecules that can be used by the body for energy.

1. What is the class of macromolecule that can be used directly in cellular respiration to make ATP (energy currency of the cell)? What is the specific molecule that feeds into cellular respiration?
   INSERT ANSWER

2. Is caffeine really a source of energy? Write a paragraph explanation for your friend. She will only accept information from a reliable source, so make sure your source(s) of information is reliable and cite it here. Be sure to use APA Style to cite any sources!
   INSERT ANSWER

Answer 1

1. Catabolism- the breakdown of proteins into amino acids

Anabolism- the formation of proteins from amino acids.

a. Nitrogen and sulfur are exclusively present in proteins which is absent in lipids and carbohydrates.

b. NITROGEN- atomic number =7, outer electrons 5

SULFUR- atomic number = 16, outer electrons- 6

c. Both of them will make covalent bonds as nitrogen requires 3 and sulfur requires 2 electrons to complete their octet.

d. Essential amino acids should be taken from the diet.

e. lack of protein can make you lose muscle mass, which in turn cuts your strength, makes it harder to keep your balance, and slows your metabolism ultimately causing fatigue.

PART III-

The macromolecule that can be used directly in cellular respiration to make ATP is carbohydrate. The specific molecule that feeds into cellular respiration is glucose.

Caffeine is a short-lived source of energy and an addictive substance.