Proteins their functions and uses

Proteins their functions and uses

1. uses

   • structural components of tissues such as muscles and tendons.
   • hormones such as insulin are made from protein
   • antibodies are made from proteins
   • enzymes are made of proteins
     • enzymes are biological catalysts
       • enzymes do not change the overall reaction in any way except make it happen faster
         • enzymes build up reactions (building large molecules from smaller ones).They also break down reactions and change one molecule into another

2. functions

   • proteins are made from a long chain of amino acids
   • in an enzyme there is a very specific shape called the active site. (lock and key mechanism)
   • growth and repair, making important molecules like enzymes, haemoglobin and insulin

3. digestion

   • most of the food we eat is made of large insoluble molecules.
     • starch is a large carbohydrate molecule made from many sugar molecules joined togther
     • fats are large molecules made from fatty acids and glycerol joined together
   • digestion means breaking down large insoluble food molecules into smaller soluble molecules so that they can be absorbed into the blood stream
   • chemical breakdown of food is controlled by digestive enzymes