WHAT ARE PROTEINS?

Proteins are large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the body. They
do most of the work in cells and are required for the structure, function, and
regulation of the body’s tissues and organs.

Proteins are made up of hundreds or thousands of smaller units called amino acids,
which are attached to one another in long chains. There are 20 different types of
amino acids that can be combined to make a protein. The sequence of amino acids
determines each protein’s unique 3-dimensional structure and its specific function.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PROTEINS:

• Proteins are made of amino acids which can be hydrophobic as well as polar
• Polar amino acids act like pH buffers.
• Characteristics of a region of a protein are a function of amino acid
composition.
• Shape is a function of regional characteristics.
• Hidden or partially hidden regions like in three dimensional shapes tend to
have weaker characteristics
• The interactions between and within a protein are due to –
i) hydrophobic linkages
ii) ionic charges
iii) Disulfide bonds – these can be easily broken or formed.
iv) covalent bonds – these hard to form or broken.

COMMON AMINO ACIDS:

Alanine [C3H7NO2]
It is one of the most significant among the 20 common amino acids. It offers energy to
your system. It releases into the blood stream during exercise time and induces
carbohydrate-consuming effect to the health system. It promotes enhancement in the
area of protein synthesis and nitrogen balance.

Arginine [C6H14N4O2]
Synthesized normally in the body, arginine is known to be a semi-essential amino
acid. Sometimes more is required than normal production. Deficiencies may include
poor wound healing, weakness in muscles, hair loss, irritations in skin, and
constipation.

Asparagine [C4H8N2O3]
It is one of the 20 common amino acids. It is needed to maintain homeostatic balance
in the nervous system. Amino acid transformation and ammonia synthesis are largely
dependent on asparagine.

Aspartic Acid [C4H7NO4]

Aspartic acid is one of two acidic amino acids belonging to the group of 20 common
amino acids. It promotes enzyme activity, maintenance of solubility in the body, as
well as homeostasis in ionic characters of proteins.

Cysteine [C3H7NO2S]
It is present only at the rate of 2.8% into proteins but it provides the 3-dimensional
stability of the protein molecule. It also plays a crucial role in the metabolic process
of many important enzymes.

Glutamic Acid [C5H9NO4]

It is one of the important amino acid among all 20 common amino acids. It is
responsible for transportation of glutamate and other amino acids to the blood
barrier.

Glutamine [C5H10N2O3]
Glutamine is able to eliminate excess ammonia from the body system. It enhances
immune system. Apart from that, glutamine possesses anti-anxiety property that
permits the mind to be relaxed.

Glycine [C2H5NO2]
Glycine is known as the second most common among the group of amino acids. It
helps transforming harmful toxic substances within the body to a non-toxic form.

Histidine [C6H9N3O2]
Histidine is required for infant development. Histidine deficiency may result in
eczema, a kind of skin disease. There are few genetic disorders that promote non-
metabolic state for histidine. This results in speech disorders and mental retardations
among infants and toddlers.

Isoleucine [C6H13NO2]
This amino acid is particularly important for stimulating the brain in order to produce
mental alertness.

Leucine [C6H13NO2]
It is particularly effective in producing other essential biochemical compounds in the
body. These chemicals are important for producing bodily energy and mental
alertness.

Lysine [C6H14N2O2]
Lysine is one of the most important amino acid among all 20 common amino acids. It
functions against herpes virus in particular by providing body required nutritional
supplements.

Methionine [C5H11NO2S]
It is an essential amino acid which functions at initiating the translation of messenger
RNA.
Phenylalanine [C9H11NO2]
This amino acid profoundly affects brain cells at biochemical level.

Proline [C5H9NO2]
It significantly affects human nutrition. It is believed to act as a source of nitrogen.

Serine [C3H7NO3]
Serine is intimately related to various bodily functions such as fat metabolism, tissue
growth, enhancement of immune system and many more. It is an essential ingredient
of brain protein.

Threonine [C4H9NO3]
It helps in maintaining protein balance and also in assisting collagen formation.

Tryptophan [C11H12N2O2]
This is particularly needed in the body for the production of vitamin B3.

Tyrosine [C9H11NO3]
This is crucial in building link between dopamine and norepinephrine. It also reduces
fat by suppressing appetite.

Valine [C5H11NO2]
It is effective in promoting tissue growth and maintaining nitrogen balance in the
health system.

References:
http://labs.ansci.uiuc.edu/meatscience/Library/protein.htm
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/protein
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