Protein is an important nutrient for humans, but few are really familiar with the structure and role of proteins.
According to Nathan Ahlgren, assistant professor of biology at Clark University, proteins are the basic structures and molecules found in all living things. A bracelet of colorful beads would be suitable for describing the structure of a protein. Each bead constituting the bracelet represents an amino acid, and protein can be basically described as a high molecular compound made by connecting several amino acids in a chain shape. All human proteins are composed of 20 types of amino acids, and this combination changes the type of protein.
In addition, the actual protein does not exist as a single string like a bracelet, but exists folded in a specific shape. The physical process by which a protein folds into a biologically functional structure is called folding, and the protein conformation affects what function the protein has.
The various amino acids that make up proteins are derived from human food and are made by the human body. Animals and plants other than humans also make protein, so when humans eat it, the protein is included in the body. It is also broken down into amino acids that make up digested proteins and reconstituted into specific proteins in the body.
Of the amino acids that make up human protein, half can be produced by the body, and the other half are essential amino acids that must be consumed through food. Therefore, eating foods rich in protein such as meat is very important for health.
Amino acids in the body are transferred to the cells and each floats in the cells like beads. In addition, according to the genetic information contained in DNA, proteins are made by combining with amino acids floating in the cell. It is known that there are 20,000 to 80,000 or more proteins in the human body, and the functions of proteins differ depending on the sequence and number of amino acids. The functions performed by proteins in the body are largely classified into two categories. One of these is a structural protein, which constitutes the human body such as bones and skin. For example, collagen is a protein that forms skin, tendons, cartilage, bone, etc., and integrin is a protein that flexibly bonds between cells.
Apart from the structural proteins that make up the human body, there is a functional protein called danjil that is involved in biochemical reactions in the body. Functions such as leptin, which suppresses obesity by controlling appetite and metabolism, insulin with the function of lowering blood sugar, hemoglobin, which plays a role in transporting oxygen from the lungs to tissues by binding to oxygen molecules, and trypsin, which separates proteins and breaks them down into amino acids Proteins are involved in all reactions in the body. There is a tendency to think that protein is regarding muscle training, but in fact, protein is involved in various activities in the body. Related content this placecan be checked in
