Proteins--a Beginners Guide

What is a protein?Proteins are essential for your cells and body. These are over 100 types of proteins but what is a protein?

Proteins are long strands of amino acids

There are 20 types of amino acids to create proteins

DNA is transcribed into an RNA transcript and the ribosomes uses this to create the correct order of the amino acids.

What are some of the jobs of proteins?

Some proteins like collagen are used as building blocks and structural support for hair, nails,skins, ligaments and tendons

Enzymes some proteins are enzymes which help speed up chemical reactions.

Digestion Pepsin is used in your stomach to help with digestion

Some proteins move molecules from one place to another. Hemoglobin found in blood helps transport oxygen in the body.

Proteins help in muscle contraction. The protein actin and myosin are both involved in muscle contraction and movement.

Some proteins regulate body functions. The protein insulin regulates glucose metabolism by controlling the blood-sugar concentration.

Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to help remove foreign substances and fight infections.

As you can see the proteins produced at the ribosomes help the cell and body stay alive and function properly.

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