BTEC Unit 11: Biological Principles for Pharmacy Technicians Handbook

This report provides a comprehensive handbook on biological principles for pharmacy technicians, covering carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, and the human genome. It details the structure and functions of carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides), lipids (triglycerides, phospholipids), and proteins (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary structures). The report also explains the structure and function of enzymes, their action with coenzymes, and the role of antioxidants. Furthermore, it describes the human genome, DNA and RNA structures, and the causes and effects of base sequence mutations. This resource aims to refresh and update the knowledge of healthcare professionals, including pharmacy technicians, on essential biological molecules and genetics, aiding in their understanding of medication and patient care. Desklib offers a wide range of study resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students in their academic pursuits.

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.

It helps in insulating body in order to keep body warm. For example: fat underneath skin
insulates body from extreme temperature and helps in maintaining temperature of body even in
extreme cold or hot climate.
Provide physical protection around joints and organs. For example: it helps in building protective
barriers around organs and joints so that body can be protected from external injuries.
1.5 Description of primary, tertiary, secondary and quaternary structure of polypeptides
Structure of protein is a three-dimensional structure and arrangement of atoms in amino-
acids chain molecule. There are four main types of protein structures and each of them vary from
each other.
Structure of primary polypeptides
It consist of amino acid sequence that further helps in driving folding and intramolecular
bonding of linear amino acid chain. In this amino acids are linked together to form a protein
(Kanagawa and Toda, 2018).
Structure of secondary polypeptides
It consists of a folding polypeptide chain that helps in giving it a 3-d shape. It is of two
types: first structure is alpha (α) helix structure and second is beta (β) pleated sheet structure.

Structure of tertiary polypeptides
It is a comprehensive 3-d structure of a polypeptide chain of a protein. In this there are
two main types of boding first is hydrophobic interactions and second is hydrogen bonding.
Structure of quaternary polypeptides
It is a structure of protein in which multiple polypeptide chains are interacted with each
other.
Explanation of ways in which protein aid growth and repair in human body
Protein provides and supply amino acids for growth and maintenance of cells and tissues
within a body. It is important because it helps in supporting cells so that they can be consistently
regenerated (Borase and et. al., 2020).
It further helps in healing of cells in an appropriate manner. it is important for repair of cells in
human. For example, after surgery protein helps in growth of tissues and cells in an appropriate
manner.

TASK 2
3.1 Give structure of enzymes
It is a linear chain of amino acids giving rise to three- dimensional structure. It is a 3-D structure
of protein that directly helps in speeding up overall speed of chemical reactions. Small part of
enzyme is known as active site which allows subtract molecule to bind so that a reaction can
take place. Its structure is shown below:
Some of these substrate fit perfectly within enzymes which is known as lock and key and some
of these do not have complimentary shapes but still fit ort bind with engymes is known as
incued fir model.

It is of three types and each of its structure have been explained below:
Primary structure
Primary enzyme structure are made up of amino acids and are bonded in linear chain. It is
found if DNA sequence of correspondence gene (Lu and Wang, 2018). Active sites in this are
electrostatic interactions
Secondary structure
In this hydrogen in amino group and oxygen in carboxyl group is present and each of them can
bond with each other through hydrogen bond. It can also be explained in other way that each of
the amino acid can interact with each other in same chain. These structures can be formed in two
ways first is in α-helix that5 has been explained in first diagram below and second is β-sheet
whose structure has been shown below in second diagram (Lu and Wang, 2018). Active sites in
this are: hydrogen bonding.

Tertiary structure
It is a 2-D linear chain in structure of enzymes that can further fold up which results in
development of three- dimensional structure. Active sites in this enzyme structures are
hydrophobic interactions.
Enzymes are made up of amino acids which are linked together. The resulting amino acid chain
is called a polypetide or protein. The specific order of amino acid in the protein is encoded by
DNA. Enzymes are catalyst involved in biological chemical reactions. Enzymes are generally
globular proteins. The other type of proteins have long thin structures and are found in tissues

like muscle and hair. Biologically it becomes crucial to notice that cells have specific enzymes
and functional protein, active shape and simple lock which further builds specific criteria for
induced fit. Enzymes, have to be in linked together which shapes up appropriate rise on
structured scenarios and develop critical rise, which further also keeps specific check on
enzymes.
This structure helps in knowing that enzymes play an important part in the enzyme
functioning within human body and this helps in knowing the basis through which all
perspectives are known at large scale which describes in detail that the enzymes are creating
value for the human body.
3.2 Explanation of functions of enzymes
Three main functions of enzymes are:
 Catalyst: enzymes are protein based catalyst that results in growth, blood coagulation,
healing, breathing etc within body and enables proper movement.
 Inhibitor: presence of inhibitor helps in changing shape it is extremely essential for
digestion of food within body and can further help in preventing health problem of active
sites that further prevent rate of reaction within body.
 Activator: it further helps in increasing velocity of enzymatic reactions, and generate
proper increased velocity of body among humans. Activator enables to keep check on
enzymes reactions and generates proper abilities delivered for larger wider activities.
 An enzyme used to attract all type of substrates to their active side and do catalyze all the
chemical reactions. After the catalyzation it allows the formed product to get dissociate.
 Enzymes speed up the chemical reactions in the human body which helps in regularizing
with the daily activities which are performed by human.
 Enzymes help in increasing the reaction rates without the alteration of the chemical
equilibrium between the products and reactants.
 Enzymes help in processing the unwinding of coils of DNA and then the copying with
the information (McNally and et.al., 2018).