Protein within the horse!?

[peterthepony]

Ok am doing a presentation at College and need all the information i can get on things like "what proteins are used for" "how they can get the sufficient amount of proteins etc" and was just wondering weather some of you could help!?!
Thanks

 

[Fairynuff]

Okay, lets see if I can remember. Proteins are combinations of amino acids and there are 7 main classes in the body.
1, structural (hair, skin, tendons, ligaments)
2, contractile (concerned with muscle contraction)
3, storage (suppliying amino acids to growing embryo9
4, defence (antibodies)
5 signal (hormones)
6, transport (haemoglobin in the blood)
7, enzymes ( which regulate and promote chemical reactions in the body)
23 types of amino acids have been identified and 13 of them can be synthesised in the body (unessential amino acids), the other 10 (essential amino acids) have to be provided in the diet.
The amount of protein that can be utilised by the body depends on the amount of limiting amino acids present in the body (lysine and threonine). The less there is of these 2 the less protein can be utilised. Soya is high in lysine and threonine whereas other cereals are low.
The circulating amino acids in the body are known as the 'amino acid pool'. Protein cant be stored in the body and any excess is broken down (deaminated) by the liver and is excreted by the kidneys as urea. Some protein is stored in the blood as albumin.
I hope that is of some help. Mairi.

 

[peterthepony]

Thank you so much