Introduction

Proteins are the most diverse class of biological molecule.  They are composed of long chains of smaller subunits called ‘amino acid’ and proteins can be ‘folded’ into many different structural configurations, resulting in a vast array of possible functions provided to the cell.

Let’s take a closer look now…

The following video explains how proteins are related to their structure and function.

Summary

• Proteins are comprised of a string of amino acids- bonded through a series of peptide bonds (primary structure).
• Proteins can be folded up to achieve unique 3-dimensional shapes (secondary, tertiary structure) and even interact together to form larger molecules (quaternary structure).
• The amino acid sequence (primary structure) along with the environment which determines a protein’s overall 3-dimensional shape. and this overall shape then provides and determines the function of any given protein.
• Proteins play a variety of roles in biological systems, ranging from structural functions to complex movements and chemical reactions (e.g. performed by enzymes).

Sources:

“What is a Protein.” YouTube, Uploaded by RCSBProteinDataBank, Sep 4 2013. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/qBRFIMcxZNM