Protein as a compound of Life

Demo Student: Pearlyn O. Sundiam Date: November 18, 2013

Proteins
Proteins are organic compounds that contain the element nitrogen as well as carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Proteins are the most diverse group of biologically important substances and are often considered to be the
central compound necessary for life. In fact, the translation from the Greek root word means first place. Skin
and muscles are composed of proteins; antibodies and enzymes are proteins; some hormones are proteins; and
some proteins are involved with digestion, respiration, reproduction, and even normal vision, just to mention a
few.
Amino Acids
There are obviously many types of proteins, but they are all made from amino acids bonded together by the
dehydration synthesis. By continually adding amino acids, called peptides, two amino acids join together to
form dipeptides; as more peptides join together, they form polypeptides.
Biological processes mediated by Protein.
a. Structural Protein-also called COLLAGEN About one third of all of the protein in your body is collagen.
Collagen is a major structural protein, forming molecular cables that strengthen the tendons and vast, resilient
sheets that support the skin and internal organs.
b. Regulatory Protein- proteins which regulate the contraction of muscle by controlling the interaction of myosin
and actin. Special proteins that bind to specific regulatory sequences of DNA and act to switch genes on and off
and thereby regulate the transcription of genes.
c. Enzymes- function as a catalyst to increase the rate of virtually all the chemical reactions that take place in a
living system. The enzymes, like all catalysts, are not consumed but are constantly reused to catalyze the same
specific reaction.
d. Hormones- are chemical messengers produced in one part of the body to function in a different part of the
body. Although fat-soluble hormones are made from steroids, water-soluble hormones such as the growth hormone
are made from amino acids.
e. Transport Protein- A transport protein (variously referred to as a Transmembrane pump, transporter
protein, escort protein, fatty acid transport protein, cation transport protein, or anion transport protein) is
a protein which serves the function of moving other materials within an organism. Transport proteins are vital to
the growth and life of all living things.
f. Antibodies- An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large Y-shaped protein produced by B
cells that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses.
The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, called an antigen.

g. Fluid Balance- is the concept of human homeostasis that the amount of fluid lost from the body is equal to the
amount of fluid taken in. Euvolemia is the state of normal body fluid volume