Biological Principles for Pharmacy Technicians: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Enzymes

BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
FOR PHARMACY
TECHNICIANS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Describe structure of carbohydrates ............................................................................................3
Explanation of functions of carbohydrates..................................................................................5
Describe structure of lipids..........................................................................................................5
Explanation of functions of lipids................................................................................................6
Description of primary, tertiary, secondary and quaternary structure of poly peptides .............7
Explanation of ways in which protein aid growth and repair in human body.............................8
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
Give structure of enzymes...........................................................................................................8
Explanation of functions of enzymes.........................................................................................10
Description of action of enzymes and coenzyme......................................................................11
Transferring Groups...................................................................................................................11
Redox Reactions........................................................................................................................11
Antioxidants...............................................................................................................................12
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................12
Description of human genome...................................................................................................12
Detailed explanation of structure of (a) DNA and (b) RNA......................................................12
Explanation of functions of nucleic acids..................................................................................15
Complete description of three causes and three effects of base sequence mutation functions of
cell and tissue and on genetic mutation....................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Pharmacy Technician is a person who mostly handles customer service and speak with
patients who require medication and advice (Delcourt and et. al., 2020). They often answer
questions related to taking medicines such as timing, number of doses to be taken in a day. There
are various kinds of principles and practices of pharmacy technician that are required to be
followed by them. It is extremely important for pharmacy technicians to update and refresh their
knowledge about genetics and biological molecules. This assessment would focus upon
production of handbook booklet for trainee pharmacy technicians in order to enhance their
knowledge and understanding about importance of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids that
are useful in proper functioning of human body.
TASK 1
1.1 Describe structure of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are represented by a stoichiometric formula (CH2O) n. Carbohydrates are
classified into three subtypes that are: monosaccharides, polysaccharides, and disaccharides.
Each of three has their own structure.
Structure of monosaccharides:
These are also known as simple sugar or glucose. Monosaccharides also have formula as
(CH2O) n. in this two- hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom associated itself with central carbon
molecule. When hydrogen and oxygen bond together hydroxyl group is formed. When carbon
forms a double with oxygen in a chain is known as carbonyl group (Saeed and et. al., 2021).
Structure of Monosaccharides depends upon position of carbonyl group and number of carbons
in backbone. Number of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in monosaccharides chances according to
n which further bring changes within overall structure as well. For example: in Glucose n=6
Glucose

Ketose
Structure of disaccharides:
When two Monosaccharides are formed and linked together then it is known as
disaccharides. These two Monosaccharides can be different and can be linked with the help of an
oxygen atom. Different types of disaccharides are have different structure and it depends upon
types of monosaccharides that are being linked together. One of the most common example of
disaccharides is sucrose in which on hydrolysis D -(+)- glucose and D-(-)- fructose are given.
Structure of sucrose have been provided below:

Structure of polysaccharides:
It is one of the largest types of polymer that consist of hundreds of monosaccharide
monomers. Process of forming polysaccharides is also same in which different monosaccharides
are connected with the help of glycosidic bonds (bond in which one oxygen molecule bridge two
carbon rings together). Starch is one of the most common type of polysaccharides and its
structure have been provided below:
1.2Explanation of functions of carbohydrates
There are four main functions of carbohydrates that have been explained below:
Work as energy source to provide energy: carbohydrates are broken down into glucose which is
one of the main source of energy for body. This is because glucose is directly used for fulfilment
of energy needs. For example: usage of glucose as a preferred energy source further help in
development of metabolism.
Store energy: storing energy is another important function of carbohydrate. Excessive glucose in
body is stored in form of glycogen (stored in muscles and liver) For example: excessive energy is
stored within muscles and liver to be used later for other purposes.
Role in digestive health: its another important role is in digesting in which carbohydrates are
broken down into sugar. These broken- down molecules are started to be digested into mouth and
continue to be digested throughout body so that normal functioning of cell can be performed
properly and their growthy and repair is not affected. For example: body uses carbohydrates for
digesting food intake done by person so that any kind of food is broken down in simple sugar
and normal functioning of cell can be continued.
Respiration: anther important function of carbohydrate in body is for Respiration in which cells
within body breaks bond and capture energy for preformation of cellular respiration.

1.3Describe structure of lipids
It is one of the most important member of cell membrane and its structure is typically
made up of glycerol backbone, 2 fatty acid tails known as hydrophobic, and a phosphate group
(hydrophilic). Basic structure of lipids is that it is made up of non- polar hydrocarbon chain that
consist of oxygen in in small polar region. There are different kinds of lipids and each of them
have different structures (Hollóczki and Gehrke, 2019). Structure of triglycerides consist of
glycerol and three fatty acids within this structure whereas in structure of phospholipids consist
of glycerol and two fatty acids and a phosphate.
Figure 1 structure of triglycerides
Figure 2 Structure of phospholipids
1.4 Explanation of functions of lipids
Some of the main functions of lipids have been explained below with three explains of
ways in which lipids are used by human body:
Its one of the main function is to provide energy to body when carbohydrates are not present
within body. For example: one gram fatty oil provide 9 calories as compared to 4 gram calorie
found in 1 gram carbohydrates.