The Importance of Proteins to Living Organisms - Essay Example

Introduction Proteins refer to some vital nutrients to the health of the living organism. It is a compound that is made up of four elements namely nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and oxygen. There are also some traces of sulphur and phosphorous as well. The centre of the structure contains a carbon atom, to which three other groups are attached. The groups are the group of carboxyl- -COOH, amino group- -NH2 and the third group is the R group. This group of R is at times just a single R However; it can also contain some complex compounds of CH3. The difference in the structures of the R group determines the shape of the protein (Watenpaugh et el, 1979). These two elements namely sulphur and phosphorous are however found in the “R” group of the proteins, which is an active enzyme, and with related bonds of different molecules. The joining of the molecules forms a large compound called amino acids or monomers. When different components of proteins are linked together, they form a peptide bond. The bond that is formed is responsible to the different uses and properties that are exhibited by different traces of proteins. The amino acids that are then formed link through primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures. It should be noted that each of the link would influence the bonding of the amino acids to strains of proteins in different ways. Proteins play a very important role in the life of all living organism especially as far as the issue of growth and repair of worn out tissues is concerned. The proteins in the body of the living organism play different roles depending on the nature of the bonding of the amino acids. They play roles like the transportation which is a role played by proteins like the casein, transferrin, and myglobin, hormonal roles are played by hormones like the estragon, catalyst roles are played by the enzymes, storage roles, and growth role like the hormone glucagon (Wright, 1973). The structure of proteins The primary unit or the basic unit of a protein is called Amino Acids. They are bound together through a bond called covalent. There are twenty common amino acids and they contain the very same ion of dipolar group H3N+.CH.COO-. When the amino acids, which make up the structure, are joined together though a bond called peptide, they have a sequence of the R- group forming a chain called the primary structure. These amino acids with the primary structure, form proteins that are very sensitive to heat and pH hence most of them are the enzymes like the Histidine which is mad up of essential amino acids. They are also charged. The proteins in this class can be positively charged like the Lysine as well as the Arginine or negatively charged like the aspartate and glutamate. They also have some characteristics of hydrophobic. The secondary structure has a polypeptide chain. There are three main secondary structures for the proteins namely the Turns, beta sheets and the alpha helices. However, there are proteins, which are in the secondary structure but cannot be classified under any of the three classes. These are called random coil or the other. The structure forms a regular polypeptide chain with the bonding angles (Stainsby, 1980). The tertiary structures are stabilized through the nonlocal interactions through the forming hydrophobic core, hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds, as well as the salt bridges. It is this form of structure that completely controls the functioning of the proteins. An example of a protein with this kind of structure is the lysozyme. The quaternary structure is as a result of many molecules of proteins in a polypeptide chain that are functioning in a one complex protein. An example of a protein with this kind of structure would be Hemoglobin. Specific functions of proteins Generally, there are numerous functions of proteins in the bodies of the living organism. These functions as stated earlier are classified depending on the composition of the type of structure. Some of them are structured to catalyze the reaction like the enzymes and for performing other chemical reactions in the body. An enzyme is one of the proteins found in the bodies of the living organism and it is involved in the process of catalysis. They are involved in the acceleration of chemical reactions that take place in the body. They take part in functions like metabolism, manipulation of the DNA like replication of DNA, repair of the DNA and transcription (Pascale, 2005). They are also involved in acting on the other proteins for the purposes of adding or removing some chemicals in a process called the modification of post-translational. The enzyme acts on the substrates molecules and the region of the enzyme that acts on the substrate or that is responsible for combining with the substrate is called the active site. Hormones refer to the chemical compositions in the body that are made up of proteins and are involved in different functions within the body through triggering different form of functions in the entire body. The main reason or function for having hormones in the body is to ensure that the process of Homeostasis is regulated. Some examples of the hormones in the body are insulin which regulates blood sugar and the glucagon hormone which is involved in the regulation of growth in human beings. Other hormones include the progesterone hormones, thyroid hormone, steroid hormone, and the estrogen amongst many others. There are also some hormones which are immune proteins and they are involved in the process of regulating the functions performed by the immune system (Chulz & Schirmer, 1990). These proteins are involved in the process of regulating the hypersensitivity of the body through the regulation of the immune system. They are involved in the process of attacking all the microbes that are endangering the body systems through infecting the body. Cell membranes are also form of proteins that serve as a very important part of the body. They are involved in the cellular functions of the body. These proteins make up the chief component of the body. They mainly function through the process of carrying those duties that are specified though the encoded information held within the genes of the body. The entire human cell is largely made up of protein and the biggest part of the cell being the cell membrane. One of the main duties of the cell membrane apart from engulfing the cell contents is to allow the movement of the materials in and out of the cell. Some of these materials include nutrients, water, gases, and also the waste products (Branden & Tooze, 1991). The protein is one of the substances that have the characteristic of being able to bind molecules. This explains why the small organisms like bacteria’s are made up of cell membranes. This ensures that they are able to bind all the important materials needed for their growth as well as for their protection. Signaling cascades, cell signaling, or ligand binding are more important functions of proteins. This is due to the fact that so many proteins are involved in these processes as well as in signal transduction. A protein like the insulin is one of the extracellular cells is involved in the process of transmitting the signals from cells where they are originally synthesized to the cells where some specific functions are needed. Some of the proteins are also used as receptors whereby they are involved in the process of binding the signal molecules resulting in an induction of a biochemical response to the cell. The antibodies are other forms of proteins that are greatly involved in the above processes (Clark, et el, 1982). They are in the immune system of adaptive and their functions are to bind with the antigens. As well as the foreign bodies which are in the body for the purpose of destroying them. These may either be extracellular produced or intracellular produce to function both in the inner or the outer part of the cell. The function of transportation is due to the ability of binding. This is whereby the proteins with the ability of binding with other materials join or bind with them and transport them to other parts of the body (Blow, et el, 1969). An example of such a protein in the body is the hemoglobin hormone; it is involved in the process of transporting oxygen from the tissues of the lungs to the rest of the body tissues. Myglobin is another very important protein involved in transportation. It is used for the process of carrying the hemoglobin from one tissue to another where it is needed. Transferrin is another example of a protein that is involved in the process of transporting the ion molecules from one part of the immune system to another. Scaffolding within a cell is another function that is performed by the proteins like the actins and myosin. These are also called the contractile proteins and they allow the contraction of the muscles hence movement. Actins, which is a contractile filament and myosin a thick filament work together to accomplish the purpose. (Ziegler & Foegeding, 1990).the myosin slide along pulling actins filaments towards the center of sarcomere on the process of contraction hence movement. Conclusion Proteins are very important component of the human as well as other organism body. They are compounds that are made up of four main elements namely the oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon. They are very important in the body and plays different roles depending on the kind of structure they have. There are four structures namely quaternary, tertiary, and secondary and the primary structures. Some of the roles that are played by the proteins in the body of the organism include transportation, growth and development, Signaling cascades, cell signaling or ligand binding, cellular functions, hormonal functions and also catalytic functions. The structure of the proteins determines the roles they play in the body due to the fact that they are adapted for different purposes. Proteins are denatures when exposed to the wrong environment like very high temperatures and high pH environment. Reference Blow, D. M., Birktoff, J. J. & Hartley, B. S. (1969). Role of a Buried Acid Group in the Mechanism of Action of Chymotrypsin. Nature, 221: 337-340 Branden, C. and Tooze, J. (1991). Introduction to Protein Structure. Manchester: Garland Publishers. Clark, A. H., Richardson, R. K., Robinson, G., Ross-Murphy, S. B., & Weaver, A. C. (1982). Structure and mechanical properties of agar/BSA co-gels. Prog. Food Nutr. Sci. 6: 149-160. Chulz, G. E., & Schirmer, R. H. (1990). Principles of Protein Structure. In 'Springer Advanced Texts in Chemistry'. London: Springer-Verlag Pascale, C. 2005. Cellular Microbiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Stainsby, G. (1980). Proteinaceous gelling systems and their complexes with polysaccharides. Food Chemistry, 6: 3-14. Tolstoguzov, V. B. (1986). Functional properties of proteins-polysaccharide mixtures. In Functional properties of Food Macromolecules. (Eds. J. R. Mitchell and D. A. Ledward) p. 385. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Watenpaugh, K. D., Sieker, L. C. & Jensen, L. (1979). The Structure of Rubredoxin at 1.2Å Resolution. J. Mol. Biol. 131: 509-522. Wright, H. T. (1973). Comparison of the Crystal Structures of Chymotrypsinogen-A and alpha-Chymotrypsin. J. Mol. Biol. 79: 1-23. Ziegler, G. R. and Foegeding, E. A. 1990. The Gelation of Proteins. Adv. Food Nutri. Res. 34; 203-298. Read More