Collagen web quest

COLLAGEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Proteins are the most diverse class of biological molecules.  Most of your body is made up of proteins.  Eact protein consists of one or more polypeptide chains, in which amino acids are strung together in a specific order.  This amino acid sequence or 'primary structure' is the key to the shape and function of the protein.  Interactions among different amino acids along the length ofthe polypeptide chain cause it to coil, bend, and fold into a complex shape.  Some proteins consist of two or more polypeptide chains.  In many cases, the polypeptide chains form a rounded or globular shape.  Most enzymes are like this, as is the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin molecule.  In other cases, polypeptide chains form long strands or sheets.  These fibrous proteins are often structural componets, such as keratin and collagen.

ACTIVITY

In this activity, you will explore the structure and function of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body.  You will begin by visiting a Protein DataBank site, where structure of collagen is described and illustrated in a "Molecule of the Month" feature.  Next, you will reaseach the effects of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that affects the structure or number of collagen molecules.

PART 1

Use your browser to go to http://www.rcsb.org

Do a search at the very top of the page for collagen, then click on the Read More link to view the article on collagen.

 Read the information and view the graphics. Use this information to answer the following questions:

1. Describe the primary structure of collagen. What are the major amino acid componets?

The major amino acids are glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Triple Helix is a type of collagen and is a long rope like structure. They are braided together by three polypeptide chains. Every third amino acid (glycine) is perfectly fitted into the helix. The rest are filled into the helix which is proline and hdroxproline.

2. What role does vitamin C play in collagen formation? What happens when a person does not gen enough vitamin C in his or her diet?

Vitamen C helps create hydroxyproline so it is very important to have it. The body can NOT produce vitamin C so we have to make sure we have it in our diet. When we don`t the production of collagen slows down, this can cause scurvy.

3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen (the way in wich the polypeptide chains are arranges).

Like braiding your hair, that is how collagens are structured. They come together making long strands side by side. they unite with the heads connection and the tails far apart.

PART 2

Use your browser to go to the Web site of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation at http://www.rcsb.org

On the left side of the home page, click the link "About OI," then find the "Facts About Ol" section.

Read the material in the sections entitled "Facts on Osteogenesis Imperfecta" and "Types of OI". Use what you ahve learned to answer the following questions:

1. What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfects? What are some other symptoms that people with OI have?

Some symptoms are that you are very fragile and bones can break or fracture. The loss of hearing can start and joint laxity. Also, curved bones (scoliosis) and having short stature.

2. Type I osteogenesis imperfecta causes fewer problems than the other forms. How does the collagen structure in Type I OI differ from that of the other types?

The collagen structure is very normal which makes it different than every other collagen. Excepy you dont have an average amount of collagen you have less.

Read the handout in the resource section on Bone Structure (opens in Acrobat Reader).

1. Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?

Collagen is like the foundation of your bones, making them stronger! Bones have a frame and collagen builds on them making them not as fragile or easy to break.

Carbohidrates Lab!!

            I REALLY enjoyed the carb lab, it helped me to understand sacchrides a whole lot better! In this lab we also worked in groups.

HYPOTHESIS: The Cheerios will be Polysacchride, the corn syrup will be Disacchrides and the Galactose will be a Monosacchride.

PURPOSE: The purpose for this lab was to get a better understanding about Sacchrides, what they are and how they join together.

MARTERIALS: Three test tubes, Cheerios, Corn syrup, Galactose, Water, Hot water bath, Benidicts, Iodine, a test tube holder, and something to Label the test tubes with.

PROCEDURE:
1st we gathered all of the materials that we needed. (Cheerios, Cornsyrup, and Galactose)
2nd we placed a little of each material in each tube separately.
3rd we tested the benidicts in each tube... to test the benidicts we add a little of water in each tube with a little benidicts and a little of each thing you are testing. Then you place the three tubes in the Hot water bath for 5 minutes 
4th we record our data
5th we test the iodine repeating step 3 but we used iodine instead of benidicts and we did not place the tubes in the hot water bath
6th we record our data and compare benidicts and iodine to determine which of the things we were testing was mono, poly, or di saccharides. 

DATA:
            Cheerios were a Disacchride
            Corn syrup was a Monosacchride
            Galactoce was a Monosaccride
As a group we did not have any Polysacchrides but as a class we had many...

EXAMPLES:
Mono- Gaclactose, Glucose, and Cornsyrup
Di-Lactose, and Sucrose
Poly-Starch, Cheerios, Flour, and Kicks Cereal.

CONCLUSION:
 Based on all of the research that we did in this lab we came to find that
            Cheerios were a Disacchride
            Corn syrup was a Monosacchride
            Galactoce was a Monosaccride!!
   

Macromolecule in cells questions... WEB SEARCH!!

Open your web browser to navigate to:

http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/bionet/biol115/t2_basics_of_life/lesson2.htm

Read the introduction to Macromolecules and answer these questions:

1. What is a Macromolecuel?

A Macromolecuel refers to a class of large molecules that are very important biologically.

2. What is monomer?

A monomer is a bunch of several molecules that are chemically bonded to form long polymer molecules.

3. What is a polymer?

Polymers are macromolecules that are built and broken down in the same way.

4. List the four main types of macromoelcules.

a. Protiens

b. Lipids

c. Carbohydrates

d. Nucleic acids

In the learning materials box click the link for the activity "making and breaking plymers." Use this activity to help answer the following questions:

5. What are the types of reactions that macromolecules are shown to undergo?

The types of reactions that macromolecules are shown to undergo are condensation and hydrolysis reactions.

6. Describe how monomers are joined together.

Monomers join together because condensation forms the molecules, they are joined by gaining other molecules; they all attach to eachother.

7. Describe how polymers are broken down.

A polymer is broken down by a process called hydrolysis.

8. What is the specific name for the bond between simple sugar monomer?

A specific name for the bond between simple suger monomers is Glycosidic linkages.

9. Which kind of enzyme joins monomers together?

Proteins are the enzyme that joins monomers together.

Back on the previous macromolecules page, scroll down to the
section on carbohydrates. In the learning materials box for carbohydrates click
the link to the “build a carbohydrate” activity.

10. describe how you had to arrange the sugar monomers in order to build a polysaccharide.

The coners must connect so the oxygens can join and they make a polysaccharide.

11. Which building blocks of macromolecules are NOT used in building carbohydrates?

Amino acids and fatty acids.

Back on the previous carbohydrates page, click on the link
on the bottom of the page labeled “More on Carbohydrates.”  Read the article and answer these questions:

12. Why is sugar stored as glycogen in the human body?

Sugar is stored as glycogen in the human body because when energy is needed it boosts you up fast... The storage is like a back up plan.

13. Why are plant foods essential to animal life?

Plant food is essential to animal life because thats where animals get their energy.

14. Describe how starch is digested by animals.

Animals digest starch by the saliva in their mouth. The saliva breaks it down andthen goes in the digestive system.

15. What is "fiber" and why is it important in your diet?

Fiber is a special type of carbohydrate and plays an important role for your blood sugar levels.

16. What causes you to pass gas (fart) according to the article?

When you pass gas it is because there is to much air in your stomach and it needs to escape, you either burp or pass gas.



Scroll back up to the top of the
carbohydrates article and click on the link in the text to “Low Carbo Madness”
and read the linked article.


17. What are some disadvantages of a low carb diet?

Some disadvantages to a low carb diet are in the first few much there is a great weight loss. But later on within the year there is great energy loss and you will not get all the carbs that you need.

Return to the original carbohydrates lesson page and click
on the link on the bottom “Carbohyrates and Cavities” and read the linked page.

18. Sugars and cavities formation

Acid-producer + carbohydrates + teeth= Cavities
When you eat sugars it produces acids that causes cavities.

Acid blog

                                                                            "ACID IN YOUR STOMACH"

In this lab my group and I (Serena, Katrina and Nika) saw what tums and rolaids do in your stomach.

When you have a stomach ache you take medicine to make yourself feel better. We
tested two tablets (tums and rolaids) mixed together with baking soda and vinegar. This acts like the acid in your stomach. We used PH strips to measure the level of ph it contains. We did tums
and the generic tablets to investigate which one worked better. Since its generic we thought that it would have worked much better; the baking soda bubbled like crazy! We
guessed right. The tum's ph was the lowest however the baking soda was
the highest.