PROTEINS - THE WORKERS IN OUR BODY.

 

What is a protein? A middle schooler would say that proteins are what help to build muscles, that they are the building blocks to developing tissues or that they help in tissue repairing. But there is so much more to them and they are not as simple as they seem. A protein is what you would call, a complex molecule. It is composed of a series of compounds known as amino acids. These amino acids, join together in a unique sequence to form a protein molecule. The different sequence that these compounds join together in, determines the type of protein molecule formed.

For example, Immunoglobulin A ( a type of protein used to fight invading diseases) has a unique sequence or combination of amino acids while histones ( a type of protein found in the DNA) has a different amino acid sequence.


Amino Acids 


FORMATION OF PROTEIN:

The amino acids join together, end to end, to form short strings known as peptides. Multiple peptide subunits join together to form protein molecules. This is why proteins are also known as polypeptides (poly-multiple). These chains of peptides fold in a three dimensional figure, forming the structure of the corresponding protein. The different combinations in which the peptides fold into the three dimensional figure determines the properties and functions of the formed protein

Formation of protein

FUNCTION OF PROTEINS:

Proteins have various functions in the body. Almost anything that is functional are proteins. You may have heard of haemoglobin which is found in the blood, or keratin (found in the hair), which is most commonly advertised in shampoo commercials, or the term hormones and enzymes. All of these are various types of proteins. They all serve different jobs in the body to keep it healthy and they carry out all the necessary operations to keep the body functional.

A few types of proteins and their funtions:

Function

Description

Example

Antibody

Antibodies bind to specific foreign particles, such as viruses and bacteria, to help protect the body.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)

Enzyme

Enzymes carry out almost all of the thousands of chemical reactions that take place in cells. They also assist with the formation of new molecules by reading the genetic information stored in DNA.

Phenylalanine hydroxylase

Messenger

Messenger proteins, such as some types of hormones, transmit signals to coordinate biological processes between different cells, tissues, and organs.

Insulin

Structural component

These proteins provide structure and support for cells. On a larger scale, they also allow the body to move.

Actin


Transport/storage

These proteins bind and carry atoms and small molecules within cells and throughout the body.

Haemoglobin

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