基础生物实验 5 - 实验二实验手册：Food Macromolecules

本期内容是 实验二：食物中的高分子 的实验手册，实验模拟请看下一期。本部分内容来自 University of California, Berkeley - UC Berkeley Extension, 虚拟实验的内容来自 Labster. 本部分内容均不会标记为为原创，但由于是UP主购买的课程，因此不接受非授权的转载，谢谢您的理解。

每一个生物基础实验均会分为三部分：第一部分为实验的生物理论；第二部分为实验的指导手册；第三部分为 Labster 的虚拟实验模拟。第一部分的基本信息由 Ying Liu, Ph.D. 提供，第二部分的实验手册来自 Labster, 第三部分的实验模拟过程由UP主操作。

Lab 2: Virtual Lab Manual: Introduction of Food Macromolecules

Synopsis

Macromolecules are very large molecules created by the polymerization of sMall units called monomers. Most of the macromolecules are present in everyday life, for instance in food.

Learn about biological macromolecules

There are several types of biological macromolecules: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic acids. All macromolecules, except lipids, are polymers. A polymer is a long molecule composed of chains of monomers. Monomers are sMall molecules that serve as building blocks of polymers. In addition, there are also oligomers in nature. Oligomers are molecular complex composed of a few monomer units, instead of the theoretical unlimited nature of polymers. Dimers and trimers are, for instance, oligomers composed of two and three monomers, respectively, such as lactose in milk for instance. However, in biochemistry, an oligomer usually refers to a macromolecular complex formed by non-covalent bonding of a few macromolecules, like nucleic acids or proteins. A clear example is those oligomers related to many neurodegenerative diseases, such as the alpha-synuclein aggregations in Parkinson’s disease.

Help your friend with your macromolecule knowledge

In the Introduction to Food Macromolecules simulation, you will help your friend get a healthy diet and investigate the types of macromolecules found in food. By performing a series of biochemistry tests, you will know the contents of various food items.

Can you use your macromolecule knowledge to convince your friend to change her diet to a healthier one?

Follow the IVF process

Once you fully understand how gametes are formed through meiosis, you will follow the process of fertilization. Screen the resulting embryos to see both sets of parental chromosomes combine to a full set of pairs. Will you be able to help Martin and Charlotte have a healthy baby?

 

Learning Objectives

At the end of this simulation, you will be able to…

    ● Understand the types of macromolecules found in food

    ● Understand the structure of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids

    ● Detect macromolecules in food samples

 

Techniques in Lab

    ● Benedict test

    ● Iodine test

    ● Sudan test

    ● Biuret test

 

Theory

Macromolecules

Macromolecules are very large molecules created by the polymerization of sMall units called monomers. Most of the macromolecules are present in everyday life, for instance in food (although nucleic acids are not considered food macromolecules).

There are several types of biological macromolecules: ● Carbohydrates ● Proteins ● Lipids ● Nucleic acids

All macromolecules, except lipids, are polymers. A polymer is a long molecule composed of chains of monomers (Figure below A). Monomers are sMall molecules that serve as building blocks of polymers (Figure below C).

In addition, there are also oligomers in nature. Oligomers are molecular complexes made out of a few monomer units, as opposed to polymers, which are theoretically unlimited. Dimers and trimers are, for instance, oligomers composed of two and three monomers, respectively, such as lactose in milk (Figure below B).

However, in biochemistry, an oligomer usually refers to a macromolecular complex formed by non-covalent bonding of a few macromolecules, like nucleic acids or proteins. Clear examples of this are oligomers related to many neurodegenerative diseases, such as the alpha-synuclein aggregations in Parkinson's disease.

 

Proteins

Protein comes from the Greek word “proteios”, which means first or primary. Proteins, the building blocks of life, are synthesized in all forms of living cells. Humans have tens of thousands of types of proteins, which are all constructed from a set of 20 amino acids.

Multiple amino acids connected by peptide bonds form a polypeptide. However, it is important to note that the term polypeptide is not synonymous with protein. A functional protein is not just an individual polypeptide chain but actually, one or more polypeptides precisely folded into a unique molecular shape. This specific protein structure determines its final function.

 

Lipid

Lipids refer to a group of water-insoluble compounds found in the tissue of plants and animals. This group of compounds is classified as: ● Fats ● Phospholipids ● Sphingomyelins ● Waxes ● Sterols

The main functions of lipids are energy storage, mobilization, and utilization. Other functions of lipids are synthesis of prostaglandin and cytokine, cell differentiation and growth, cell membrane structure, signal transMission, hormone synthesis, and bile acid synthesis.

Food biochemistry assay

Biochemistry assay is performed to detect the presence of certain macromolecules in a sample.

感谢阅读！下一期将进行 Labster 实验！