The Role of Protein

The Role of Protein

Proteins are extraordinarily vital particles in our body's cells. Proteins are a part of basically all body cellular functions, including cell regeneration and repair, tissue maintenance and regulation, hormone and enzyme production (James, C.S. Delores). They vary in structure and function as well.

When thinking about hormone and enzyme production, it is important to understand that amino acids are the basic building blocks of hormones, which are critical chemical signaling messengers of the body (James, C. S. Delores). When protein functions are increased, according to the article Gain-of -function Mutations in Human Genetic Disorders "the results may be from genetic events that lead to protein over expression, loss of expression of a negative regulator, such as a tumor suppressor, or inherent activation of protein function by gain-of-function mutations that alter the protein's primary amino acid sequence".

Enzymes are commonly referred to as the main catalyst for biochemical reactions. They greatly speed up reactions by providing an alternate pathway of low activation. The proteins in enzymes are mostly globular. Many of the enzymes have a protein and non protein, referred to as a cofactor.

Protein is very important and the prescribed consumption is mainly dependent on the person's body size. When exercising or active, the amount of protein required for different types of people varies. Protein serves various functions in the body. The structure of a protein determines its function.

REFERENCES

James, DCS (Editor). Nutrition and Well-being A-Z. 2 vols. New York: Macmillan Reference, Thompson/Gale. 2004. 654 pages

Weinstein, L. (2006). Gain-of-function Mutations in Human Genetic Disorders, Retrieved March 11, 2011 from EBSCOhost