Proteins as enzymes

Enzymes are mainly globular proteins - protein molecules where the tertiary structure has given
the molecule a generally rounded, ball shape (although perhaps a very squashed ball in some
cases). The other type of proteins (fibrous proteins) have long thin structures and are found in
tissues like muscle and hair.These globular proteins can be amazingly active catalysts.One
molecule of catalase can decompose almost a hundred thousand molecules of hydrogen
peroxide every second.
An important point about enzymes is that they are very specific about what they can catalyse.
Even small changes in the reactant molecule can stop the enzyme from catalysing its reaction.

Proteins as hormones
Some proteins function as chemical-signaling molecules called hormones. These proteins are
secreted by endocrine cells that act to control or regulate specific physiological processes, which
include growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction. For example, insulin is a protein
hormone that helps to regulate blood glucose levels. Other proteins act as receptors to detect the
concentrations of chemicals and send signals to respond. Some types of hormones, such as
estrogen and testosterone, are lipid steroids, not proteins.

PROTEINS AS TRANSPORTERS
Proteins perform essential functions throughout the systems of the human body. In the
respiratory system, hemoglobin (composed of four protein subunits) transports oxygen for use in
cellular metabolism. Additional proteins in the blood plasma and lymph carry nutrients and
metabolic waste products throughout the body. In form of chylo-micron , protein membrane helps
to transfer lipid molecules to adipositic cells.

PROTEINS AS STRUCTURAL MOLECULE

The proteins actin and tubulin form cellular structures , while keratin forms the structural support
for the dead cells that become fingernails and hair.Actin and myosin allow muscles to contract.

collagen and elastin are critical components of connective tissue such as cartilage,

PROTEINS AS ANTIBODIES
Antibodies are protein components of an adaptive immune system whose main function is to
bind antigens, or foreign substances in the body, and target them for destruction. Antibodies
can be secreted into the extracellular environment or anchored in the membranes of
specialized B cellsknown as plasma cells. Whereas enzymes are limited in their binding
affinity for their substrates by the necessity of conducting their reaction, antibodies have no
such constraints. An antibody's binding affinity to its target is extraordinarily high.

PROTEINS AS PART OF MEMBRANES

Transmembrane proteins serve as ligand transport proteins that alter the permeability of the
cell membrane to small molecules and ions. The membrane alone has a hydrophobic core
through which polar or charged molecules cannot diffuse. Membrane proteins contain
internal channels that allow such molecules to enter and exit the cell. Many ion channel
proteins are specialized to select for only a particular ion; for example, potassium and
sodium channels often discriminate for only one of the two ions.

HISTONE PROTEINS

In biology, histones are highly alkaline proteins found in eukaryotic cell nuclei that package
[1][2]

and order the DNA into structural units called nucleosomes.

They are the chief protein
components of chromatin, acting as spools around which DNA winds, and playing a role in
gene regulation. Without histones, the unwound DNA in chromosomes would be very long
PROTEINS AS ENERGY SOURCE

Proteins are the least favorite food to use as energy but if the body needs to, it will.
Proteinsare made up of amino acids so when they are digested, we are left with hundreds
or thousands of amino acids.In order to use amino acids as energy, you need to convert
them to sugars.If we are going to turn amino acids into sugars, we have to remove this
nitrogen to turn it into sugar. The process of removing that amino group is called
deamination (taking away the amino group, NH2). When you remove that NH2, you
actually form NH3(Ammonia). Then in your liver, this ammonia is turned into Urea . Now
that it doesnt have the amino group, its still an acid and its called a keto acid (aka
ketone bodies). The ketoacid can be reversibly formed into acetyl sugar.When the body
makes sugar that wasnt a sugar, such as ketoacids into acetyl sugars, thats known as
gluconeogenesis. This name is generally reserved for proteins specifically.