(Solved): The final tests ordered for the patient are a BUN (blood-urea-nitrogen) test, a procalcitonin test, ...

The final tests ordered for the patient are a BUN (blood-urea-nitrogen) test, a procalcitonin test, and a CRP test. The BUN test measures kidney function and catabolism (an increased BUN signifies impairment, which is common in pneumonia). Calcitonin is a molecule derived from the splitting of a larger precursor molecule called procalcitonin. In healthy adults, the procalcitonin is converted to calcitonin, which then participates in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The conversion of procalcitonin to calcitonin is inhibited by bacterial infection and immune responses; so, levels of procalcitonin are often elevated in patients with pneumonia. The other is test for CRP, which is synthesized by the liver and binds to phosphocholine on dead or damaged cells in order to mark those cells for immune responses. Measuring CRP level (normal levels are < 10 mg/ml) is a screen for infection and inflammation, because CRP levels can increase rapidly and markedly when processes go awry (in bacterial infection, CRP levels can range from 40 to 200 mg/ml). Various structural views of urea (for the BUN), procalcitonin, and CRP are shown below. Based on the functional groups and levels of structure you see, all these molecules are related to which macromolecule family?

The final tests ordered for the patient are a BUN (blood-urea-nitrogen) test, a procalcitonin test, and a CRP test. The BUN test measures kidney function and catabolism (an increased BUN signifies impairment, which is common in pneumonia). Calcitonin is a molecule derived from the splitting of a larger precursor molecule called procalcitonin. In healthy adults, the procalcitonin is converted to calcitonin, which then participates in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The conversion of procalcitonin to calcitonin is inhibited by bacterial infection and immune responses; so, levels of procalcitonin are often elevated in patients with pneumonia. The other is test for CRP, which is synthesized by the liver and binds to phosphocholine on dead or damaged cells in order to mark those cells for immune responses. Measuring CRP level (normal levels are < 10 mg/ml) is a screen for infection and inflammation, because CRP levels can increase rapidly and markedly when processes go awry (in bacterial infection, CRP levels can range from 40 to 200 mg/ml). Various structural views of urea (for the BUN), procalcitonin, and CRP are shown below. Based on the functional groups and levels of structure you see, all these molecules are related to which macromolecule family?