The Effect of Altered Level of Proteins in the Body on Diseases
Proteins are the most structurally sophisticated molecules within the
body, each consisting of a unique three-dimensional shape. They make
up approximately 50 % of the mass of each cell and consist of
functions ranging from enzyme proteases in the stomach such as
Trypsin, to hormones, which are transported in the blood such as
Adrenaline. Alteration in the structure or level of a protein will be
as a result of gene expression. This may result in a number of
disorders and diseases, which affect the homeostasis of the body, with
the potential of causing lasting damage. Two protein hormones with
vital functions within the body are Insulin and Glucagon; these are
secreted from the Islets of Langerhans within the pancreas. Alteration
in levels of these hormones has a direct effect on carbohydrate
metabolism, which is a major component of cellular respiration and the
synthesis of organic molecules. These two hormones work via a process
of negative feedback in order to maintain a constant level of blood
glucose, which is approximately '90mg/ml in humans.'[1]
Insulin secretion from beta cells is stimulated in response to high
blood glucose concentrations. It acts to lower blood glucose by
stimulating uptake of glucose from the blood into cells especially
skeletal muscle cells, adipose tissue and liver cells, were it is
stored or converted to ATP as an energy source. Insulin also reduces
blood glucose by slowing the rate of glycogen breakdown and inhibiting
the conversion of fats to sugars. Insulin brings ...
... middle of paper ...
...ugh a change in a single protein Insulin. Even
when the protein is administered in the correct amounts the body is
unable to bring about a normal response, this is shown by the effects
of Hyperglycaemia. Carbohydrate metabolism demonstrates the importance
and diversity of proteins within the body, this is shown through the
number of enzymes needed to monitor metabolism and the individual
receptors which recognise specific substrates. All of these examples
are functioning proteins; alteration in the level of any would
potentially have a profound effect on the body.
[1] Campbell and Reece Biological Sciences, 6th Edition, Addison
Wesley
[2] http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/sect59a
[3] Martini (2000) Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, 5th Edition
[4] http://www.mediplane.com/Education/Case_Studies/DKa.pdf
Our body obtains the energy by digesting the carbohydrates into glucose. Volumes of glucose are required by the body to create ATP. ATP is short for 'Adenosine Triphosphate ' and is an energy carrier. When we consume too many carbohydrates our body produces a lot of glucose and as a result blood glucose levels rise and sometimes they may rise over the normal range of blood glucose concentration. To bring it back within the healthy range, the homeostatic system of blood glucose regulation is used. The blood flows through the pancreas where the beta cells, receptors, detect the high blood glucose level. To counteract this stimuli beta cells alert the control centre, which are also the beta cells located in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The secretion of insulin has to be done quickly but can only be carried out when insulin gene is switched on. Turning on the insulin gene switch can take 30 minutes to an hour therefore, the production of insulin by beta cells are done in advance and are packaged in vesicles right until blood glucose rises. Glucose comes into the beta cell to trigger the vesicle that contains the insulin to move towards the plasma membrane and fuse. This releases the insulin into the bloodstream where they are distributed throughout the body and only affect specific target cells. The receptor, a protein, on the target cell’s plasma membrane recognises and connects
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by specialized cells on the surface of the pancreas called pancreatic islets or Islets of Langerhans. It causes changes to occur in the plasma membrane of the cell that cause the cell to pull in glucose from the blood stream. The hormonal counterpart of insulin is glycogon, which serves to promote the rele...
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a condition in the body that is related to a faulty metabolism. It means that the body’s metabolism is not functioning properly, which leads to adverse effects in the health. The food we ingest, gets broken down into blood sugar (glucose), which is what fuels our body in the form of energy. This converted glucose needs to enter our cells so that it can be used for energy and growth. And in order for the glucose to enter our cells, there needs to be insulin present, which the beta cells of the pancreas is responsible for producing. This hormone is responsible for maintaining glucose level in the blood. It allows the body cells to use glucose as a main energy source.
There are many different things that can go wrong in our bodies. A metabolic disorder can be one. There are many different kinds that maybe deadly if left untreated and others can be treated but still left to deal with for the rest of one's life. One disorder can be glycogen storage disorder this can affect many different age groups from new born to the elderly. It deals with the function of the body to obtain its greatest source from which it obtains energy from. It deals with glucose, now there are many different categories that can fall under this. Because the body will store glucose as glycogen then reconvert it back, now this is where the problem is found. The bodies of some individuals lack enzymes or an enzyme that is needed to convert it back. Because some lack the enzymes it is hereditary meaning you can be born with this. The human body is very fragile in that if one thing goes wrong you can count on that it will be affecting everything else that's around it and so on. So you may appreciate how well the body can adapt to things. Glycogen storage disorder is one that can lead to death if it is left without treatment in some cases or even failure of other parts of the body.
Insulin is a main component in the regulation of the body’s metabolism. Insulin is regulated by digestion processes. At the beginning of digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose and other sugar molecules. Glucose is then directly absorbed into the bloodstream which causes blood glucose levels to peak. At the same time, the pancreas releases insulin to allow the glucose to be absorbed into cells either to be used as energy or stored. Once levels are balanced, the pancreas reduces production of insulin. In a patient with Type II diabetes, insulin may be produced and able to attach to receptor cells but glucose is unable to move into the cell to be used. As the disease progresses, the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient insulin to overcome the resistance. This causes the beta cells to become damaged which results in permanent hyperglycemia (Diabetes- Type 2).
...s leads to insufficient transportation of glucose into the cells for energy production and conversion of excess glucose into glycogen or fat storage. So glucose accumulates in the blood plasma causing hyperglycemia.
MS is a chronic "autoimmune" disease of the central nervous system. The oligodendrocytes decease and the myelin sheath around nerves is destroyed. This process takes place in different areas of the CNS. The openings that emerge because of demyelination are filled by reactive astrocytes (astrogliosis) and develop scar tissue (sclerotic plaque). After demyelination a neuron can no longer effectively conduct electrical signals. Neurological characteristics of patients suffering from MS may include temporary blindness, paralysis, disorientation, double vision and sensory disturbances (Dongxu, H. F. Lee, & D'Souza, 2015) (Bruck, 2005).
The pancreas uses these two hormones in order to monitor blood glucose levels. After a meal, blood glucose usually rises. This is when insulin secretion will start (Nussey S, Whitehead S. “Endocrinology: An Integrated Approach”). Consequently, blood glucose decrease to the normal range. This is how insulin maintains blood levels when is high. However, when blood level falls below normal range, glucagon comes into play. Low blood glucose occurs usually when hungry and during exercise. This will then triggers glucagon secretion. When blood level falls, the body goes into imbalance. Hence is why in order to maintain homeostasis glucagon is crucial. The body will tell the pancreas to increase more glucose and the pancreas will secrete glucagon by taking glycogen from the liver to produce glucose. The glucose will produce energy and will make blood glucose concentration increase (Homeostasis of Insulin and Glucose, Abpischools.org). When the pancreas cannot maintain homeostasis, many problems will arise in the body. When the pancreas fails to produce insulin, type 1 and 2 diabetes can occur. For those with type 1 diabetes, insulin injections will be needed in order to regulate blood glucose level, otherwise, glucose levels will be out of control. For type 2 diabetes, they are not insulin dependent like type 1, however, the body does not create enough in the body. When blood glucose
The pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in is related to the insulin hormone. Insulin is secreted by cells in the pancreas and is responsible for regulating the level of glucose in the bloodstream. It also aids the body in breaking down the glucose to be used as energy. When someone suffers from diabetes, however, the body does not break down the glucose in the blood as a result of abnormal insulin metabolism. When there are elevated levels of glucose in the blood, it is known as hyperglycemia. If the levels continue to remain high over an extended period of time, damage can be done to the kidneys, cardiovascular systems; you can get eye disorders, or even cause nerve damage. When the glucose levels are low in one’s body, it is called hypoglycemia. A person begins to feel very jittery, and possibly dizzy. If that occurs over a period of time, the person can possibly faint. Diabetes mellitus occurs in three different forms - type 1, type 2, and gestational.
Glucagon is a hormone that works to increase blood glucose levels by stimulating the breakdown of glycogen to glucose, and the production of glucose from none carbohydrate pathways. Glucagon is an antagonist to insulin by making more glucose and keeping it available in the blood stream, whereas insulin works to transport glucose from the blood stream into tissue cells. Amylin is another hormone produce by beta cells. It is co-secreted with insulin and works to inhibit glucagon. Typically and dysfunction of insulin production is associated with a dysfunction in amylin production. Incretins are peptides found in the gastrointestinal tract. They are peptide hormones that are released in response to the intake of food. Incretins are responsible for the sensitivity of beta cells to blood glucose levels, and help improve insulin response to meals. These peptides bind to the beta cells and stimulate the production and release of insulin (McCance, 2010). A combination of multiple factors dysfunction is responsible for type 2 diabetes. When treating the disease, the number one priority to control glucose intake and decrease weight of the patient. A reduction in weight will result in a decrease in insulin need. Medications like metformin, pioglitazone, and glimepiride can also help to control blood glucose by working with
The pancreas regulates blood glucose levels and plays a key role in metabolism. The pancreas helps break down food in the small intestine by digestive juices and enzymes. One of the hormones the pancreas produces is insulin. This hormone is responsible for regulating glucose. All the cells in the body requires glucose for energy. If your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t properly make use of it than, the glucose builds up in the bloodstream. This can lead to hyperglycemia which is a deficiency of insulin secretion or decrease sensitivity of receptors on the target cells. Diabetes mellitus condition can exist in three different forms, type one, type two, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Type one is also called insulin dependent
This process is called glycation, which is the bonding of glucose and amino acids without the presence of enzymes. This chemical reaction eventually produces an end product of what are known as AGEs (advanced glycation end products). AGEs are known for its ability for covalent crosslink between the AGE molecule itself and other proteins in the body, subsequently altering the shape and form of the protein itself and creating a domino effect (AGE is mostly known as an “aging product” as it deforms the amino acids of the body, aging the body faster in the process of breaking down). The more glucose there is in the body, and if left untreated for a period of time, the more AGEs molecules that will be produced due to the high glucose molecules available for this reaction to occur. As such, having a high blood glucose level often (both in a diabetic and non-diabetic) can speed up the body's aging process as it breaks down the body’s organic molecules. Thus, the body uses insulin to counteract this stimulus. For the diabetics, where insulin is difficult to manage, the glucose molecules are constantly attacking the body’s proteins, which is why most diabetics have a shorter lifespan than a normal person. Another reason high glucose levels are dangerous is because it can increase other health problems such as kidney and heart disease, liver disease and affect the nervous
The pancreas, in addition to its digestive process has two important hormones, Insulin and Glucagon which are important for the maintenance of blood glucose level at a narrow range. Not only glucose, but also they are important for protein and lipid metabolism. Glucagon is secreted by the alpha cells of the islet of Langerhans and Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of Langerhans. Both are secreted to portal vein. (8)
Implications of Protein Deficiency When a person has a deficiency in protein in their diet, they can become. victims of protein energy malnutrition. The malnutrition of protein has many health effects. There are two types of protein energy. malnutrition, the first type is acute protein energy malnutrition.
Moderation is vital in all aspects of life and is necessary for overall health, including with one’s food intake. Protein is one of the many important nutrient building blocks that is necessary for proper growth and good health. However, eating excessive amounts of any nutrient or inadequate amounts, can cause various health concerns. Scientists have been able to estimate the amount of nutrients that the body requires. However, the amount of any particular nutrient varies from person to person, depending on your “age, sex, general health status, physical activity level, and use of medications and drugs” (Schiff 2013). It is also important to remember that consuming the required amount of nutrients that meets your dietary guidelines does not