• Engineering and Architecture
  • Management and Business Administration
  • Medicine and Allied Sciences
  • Law
  • Animation and Design
  • Media, Mass Communication and Journalism
  • Finance & Accounts
  • Computer Application and IT
  • Pharmacy
  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Competition
  • School
  • Study Abroad
  • Arts, Commerce & Sciences
  • Learn
  • Online Courses and Certifications
Biological Functions Of Proteins: Roles, Function, Importance

Biological Functions Of Proteins: Roles, Function, Importance

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 05:28 PM IST

Large biomolecules and macromolecules known as proteins comprise one or more extended chains of amino acid residues. Among the many tasks that proteins carry out in living things include catalyzing metabolic processes, replicating DNA, reacting to stimuli, giving cells and organisms shape, and moving chemicals from one place to another. The primary way that proteins differ from one another is in the order of their amino acids, which is determined by the nucleotide sequence of their genes and often causes a protein to fold into a certain 3D shape that controls its function.

This Story also Contains

  1. Structure Of Protein
  2. Functions Of Protein
  3. The Structure Of Protein
  4. Different Types Of Structure Of Proteins
  5. Biological Role of Protein

A polypeptide is an ordered sequence of amino acid residues. At least one long polypeptide is present in every protein. Less than 20–30 residue polypeptides are frequently referred to as peptides and are seldom thought of as proteins.

Structure Of Protein

Muscles, bones, skin, hair, and almost all other human organs and tissues include protein. It serves as the foundation for enzymes and fuels numerous chemical reactions and hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in your blood.

The twenty-plus fundamental building blocks of protein are known as amino acids. Our bodies manufacture amino acids in one of two ways since we cannot store them: either from scratch or by altering other amino acids. Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine are some of the necessary amino acids that must be absorbed from the diet.

Functions Of Protein

Proteins are essential for carrying out complicated activities as well as for the synthesis and renewal of DNA. Proteins are called enzymes to help break down food.

Numerous hormones that aid in maintaining the balance of the body's constituent parts are connected to the production of proteins. Cells interact with one another and with the outside environment through surface receptors. Proteins make up these receptors.

The immune system employs antibodies, proteins found in the body, to mend and heal the body after foreign infections have been introduced. Proteins that enable communication between cells and organs.

  • Digestive Enzymes

The enzymes that aid in digestion are specific proteins. To put it another way, they break down nutrients into their essential monomeric components. The digestive enzymes pepsin and amylase are two examples.

  • Structural Proteins

NEET Highest Scoring Chapters & Topics
Know Most Scoring Concepts in NEET 2024 Based on Previous Year Analysis.
Know More

Proteins that are essential because they make up parts of some structures. Tubulin and keratin are two examples.

  • Hormonal Functions

Hormones are crucial for controlling how the body works. One such instance is insulin.

  • Transportation

Proteins are essential for moving materials throughout the body. Haemoglobin is one such instance of such a protein.

  • Defence and Protection

Proteins also play an essential role in the immune system, which defends the body against infections. An illustration of one such protein is an immunoglobulin.

  • Storage Functions

Albumin and egg white are two proteins feeding the developing embryo.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How do transport proteins facilitate the movement of molecules across cell membranes?
A:
Transport proteins facilitate molecule movement across cell membranes by:
Q: What is the significance of post-translational modifications in protein function?
A:
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial for protein function because they:
Q: How do proteins contribute to DNA replication and repair?
A:
Proteins play essential roles in DNA replication and repair by:
Q: What is the role of proteins in cellular motility?
A:
Proteins are crucial for cellular motility, contributing to:
Q: How do proteins contribute to the maintenance of cellular pH?
A:
Proteins help maintain cellular pH through several mechanisms:

The Structure Of Protein

To create protein structures, amino acids condense and form peptide bonds. A peptide bond (-CO-NH) is created between the amine group of one molecule and the carboxyl group of the neighboring molecule, which is followed by the elimination of a water molecule. If not, this connection is an amide one. A polypeptide chain is created when peptide bonds are established between more than ten amino acids. A protein is produced when a polypeptide chain has a mass of more than 10,000 u and more than 100 amino acids.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What is the importance of protein glycosylation?
A:
Protein glycosylation, the attachment of sugar molecules to proteins, is important because it:

Different Types Of Structure Of Proteins

  • Primary Structure

The arrangement of amino acids that make up a polypeptide chain is known as the fundamental structure. Twenty different amino acids make up proteins. A protein's fundamental sequence is the arrangement of its amino acids.

  • Secondary Structure

The secondary structure of a protein refers to the regular, recurring folding patterns that make up its backbone. The beta-sheet and the alpha-helix are the two most prevalent folding patterns.

One of the most common methods for a polypeptide chain to produce all available hydrogen bonds is the helix, which involves twisting into a right-handed screw and hydrogen-bonding each amino acid residue -NH group to the -CO of the subsequent helix turn. As they twisted, the polypeptide chains created a right-handed screw. The polypeptide chains are positioned adjacent and joined by H-bonds like a pleated sheet. This structure, which is held together by intermolecular hydrogen bonds, is formed by stretching each peptide chain to almost its maximum extent. The name "pleated sheet" comes from how the structure mimics the folded pleats of drapery.

  • Tertiary Structure

The tertiary structure is the whole polypeptide chain folded into a precise 3D form. A compact, spherical tertiary structure is typical of enzymes.

  • Quaternary Structure

Polypeptide chains make up a large portion of proteins. The arrangement of the different subunits to create the overall structure is described by the quaternary structure of a protein.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How do chaperone proteins assist in protein folding?
A:
Chaperone proteins help other proteins fold correctly by:
Q: Why are enzymes considered proteins, and how do they work?
A:
Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed. They work by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur. Enzymes have a specific three-dimensional shape with an active site that binds to substrate molecules, facilitating the reaction.
Q: How do structural proteins contribute to cellular and tissue integrity?
A:
Structural proteins provide mechanical support and maintain the shape of cells and tissues. Examples include:
Q: What is the importance of protein-protein interactions in cellular processes?
A:
Protein-protein interactions are crucial for many cellular processes, including:
Q: How do hormones that are proteins differ from steroid hormones in their mechanism of action?
A:
Protein hormones and steroid hormones differ in their mechanisms of action:

Biological Role of Protein

Proteins are the fundamental components of life and give living things the structural support they need to develop and flourish. Actually, "protein" comes from the Greek adjective proteos, which means "the most significant." Each protein comprises a lengthy chain of amino acids linked together by peptides. The human body alone may express hundreds of thousands of distinct proteins, although these chains only include 20 different amino acids.

Would you want to learn more about how proteins and biological function are related? Continue reading as we highlight some essential functions protein performs in biological systems, from mending tissue to catalysing metabolic events.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What are the main functions of proteins in living organisms?
A:
Proteins have diverse roles in living organisms, including:
Q: How do proteins achieve such a wide variety of functions?
A:
Proteins achieve diverse functions through their unique three-dimensional structures, which are determined by their amino acid sequences. The specific shape and chemical properties of each protein allow it to interact with other molecules in specific ways, enabling various biological processes.
Q: What is the relationship between a protein's structure and its function?
A:
A protein's structure directly relates to its function. The primary structure (amino acid sequence) determines the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures, which create the protein's final shape and chemical properties. This three-dimensional structure allows the protein to interact with specific molecules and perform its unique function.
Q: How do mutations in protein-coding genes affect protein function?
A:
Mutations in protein-coding genes can alter the amino acid sequence of a protein, potentially changing its structure and function. This can lead to:
Q: What is the significance of protein folding in cellular function?
A:
Protein folding is crucial for cellular function because it determines the protein's three-dimensional structure and, consequently, its function. Properly folded proteins can perform their intended roles, while misfolded proteins may be non-functional or even harmful. Misfolded proteins can aggregate and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the role of proteins in photosynthesis?
A:
Proteins play essential roles in photosynthesis by:
Q: How do proteins contribute to osmotic balance in cells?
A:
Proteins contribute to osmotic balance in cells by:
Q: How do proteins contribute to the blood clotting cascade?
A:
Proteins are essential in the blood clotting cascade, contributing by:
Q: What is the role of proteins in cellular redox balance?
A:
Proteins play crucial roles in maintaining cellular redox balance by:
Q: How do proteins contribute to the extracellular matrix?
A:
Proteins are essential components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), contributing to its structure and function by:
Q: How do proteins contribute to cellular compartmentalization?
A:
Proteins contribute to cellular compartmentalization by:
Q: How do proteins contribute to neurotransmission?
A:
Proteins are crucial for neurotransmission, playing roles in:
Q: What is the role of proteins in cell cycle regulation?
A:
Proteins regulate the cell cycle through various mechanisms:
Q: What is the significance of protein-nucleic acid interactions?
A:
Protein-nucleic acid interactions are crucial for many cellular processes:
Q: What is the role of proteins in apoptosis (programmed cell death)?
A:
Proteins play key roles in apoptosis by:
Articles
Previous
Next