Question

Explain the structure and biological applications of proteins

Answer 1

Protein structure is important for the basic structure of cells because it is through small molecular interactions that they are enabled to do their job. Proteins can have structural functions, enzymatic functions, signaling functions, and rarely be used to store energy. Take enzymes for example.

Answer 2

Answer:

Proteins are the most versatile macro molecules in living systems and serve crucial functions in essentially all biological processes. They function as catalysts, they transport and store other molecules such as oxygen, they provide mechanical support and immune protection, they generate movement, they transmit nerve impulses, and they control growth and differentiation. Indeed, much of this text will focus on understanding what proteins do and how they perform these functions.

Several key properties enable proteins to participate in such a wide range of functions.

1.

Proteins are linear polymers built of monomer units called amino acids. The construction of a vast array of macro molecules from a limited number of monomer building blocks is a recurring theme in biochemistry. Does protein function depend on the linear sequence of amino acids? The function of a protein is directly dependent on its three-dimensional structure . Remarkably, proteins spontaneously fold up into three-dimensional structures that are determined by the sequence of amino acids in the protein polymer. Thus, proteins are the embodiment of the transition from the one-dimensional world of sequences to the three-dimensional world of molecules capable of diverse activities.

2.

Proteins contain a wide range of functional groups. These functional groups include alcohols, thiols, thioethers, carboxylic acids, carboxamides, and a variety of basic groups. When combined in various sequences, this array of functional groups accounts for the broad spectrum of protein function. For instance, the chemical reactivity associated with these groups is essential to the function of enzymes, the proteins that catalyze specific chemical reactions in biological systems .

Explanation: