What is Protein and what are its important functions?

Protein is a large bimolecular, or macromolecular thing that consists of amino acids. The function of proteins within organisms include catalyzing metabolic reactions DNA replication, responding to stimuli, and carrying molecules from one place to another. Proteins vary from one another in their chain of amino acids, which is dictated by the nucleotide sequence.

Sources of Proteins:

We can get proteins from plant sources as well as animal sources. Some of the best sources of plant proteins are groundnuts, beans, and whole cereals including wheat and maize, and pulses. Animal sources of proteins are lean meat (meat without fat), fish, eggs, milk and cheese. The most valuable proteins are found in milk, meat and eggs. They contain all the amino acids required by our body. These proteins are particularly needed by children.

Important Functions Proteins:

The properties or functions of food proteins depend on the amino acids of which they are made. There are some important types of protein required by our body such as enzyme proteins, hormone proteins, transport proteins, contractile proteins, structural proteins, and protective proteins.

The functions of these proteins are

• The function of enzyme is to catalyze the biochemical reactions like digestion. Pepsin and Trypsin are enzyme proteins.
• The function of hormone proteins is to regulate the various body functions. Insulin is a protein hormone.
• The function of transport proteins is to carry different substances from the blood to various tissues of the body. Haemoglobin is an example of transport protein.
• The function of contractile proteins is to help in the contraction of muscles and other cells of our body. Myosin and Actin are contractile proteins.
• The function of structural protein is to form the structural elements of the cells and tissues of our body. Collagen is an example of structural proteins.
• The function of protective proteins is to help fight infection in our body. Gamma globulins present in blood is an example of protective proteins.

Protein is a significant substance found in every cell in the human body. Other than water proteins are the most copious chemical in the human body. Proteins are large, compound iotas that play many essential roles in the body. They do most of the work in cells and are vital for the function, regulation and structure of the body’s tissues and organs. Where some proteins are responsible for structural support, others are involved in defense against germs or bodily movement. Proteins are fabricated from a set of 20 amino acids.

Maintenance and Repair :

Protein is characterized as the building block of the body because protein plays a significant role keeping the body tissue juvenescent. It also repairs them whenever needed. Skin, eyes, hair, muscles, and organs all need protein to grow. This is the reason why children need more protein than adults as they are growing and requires more of it to build muscle and tissue mass.

Antibodies :

Some proteins form antibodies prevent illness, infections, and diseases. These proteins help in detecting and supporting in eliminating antigens like viruses and bacteria with the help of white blood cells.

Enzymes :

Enzymes are the proteins that increase the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Such as one type of protein assists in creating DNA while other manages to keep the digestion up by breaking down fat molecules, large protein chains, and carbohydrates.

Hormones :

Hormones are proteins that send signals and harmonize bodily activities. Such as Thyroid hormone, which regulates body temperature, metabolism, and synthesizes other proteins. Insulin hormone, on the other hand, manages glucose breakdown and controls blood sugar levels.

Energy :

Our body can use protein for its energy needs when carbohydrates are depleted. When required, proteins break down into their constituent amino acids, which are then oxidized in the same process as glucose to create energy.

Storage and Transportation :

These proteins carry other proteins and compounds throughout the body; like, hemoglobin is a sort of transport protein available in red blood cells. It transports oxygen from lungs to all the cells and tissues and transfers carbon dioxide back to lungs for excretion. Protein is also used to store certain molecules; such as Ferritin which is a protein that combines with iron for stowage in the liver.

Like carbohydrates and fats protein too is a macro-nutrient. That would mean that a human is ideally required to take a large amount of it to stay healthy. Unlike fats and carbohydrates our body does not store protein, so it hasn’t got any reservoir when the body requires it the most. 

One can supplement his or her needs from different sources of protein. Some of the natural resources are dairy products (milk, cheese, and yogurt), meat, fish, soy, eggs, legumes and nut butters (peanut butter and almond butter). Proteins derived from animal sources (i.e. milk, eggs & meat) are complete, but your body’s ability to use the protein can vary.