Wize University Biochemistry Textbook > Protein Function & Enzymes
Introduction to Protein functions
0:00 / 0:00
Protein functions
- these are the working units of the cell.
- most of the cell is made of proteins
- ANALOGY: if the cell were a bee hive, the proteins would be the bees.
Major functions include
- Enzymes - effect the speed of reactions
- Transportation - proteins that move things around/in/out of the cell
- Support - maintaining cell structure (ex. cytoskeleton)
- Signaling
- Movement - movement of things in the cell or movement of the cell itself (flagella)
- Defense - proteins that are active in the immune system (ex. antibodies are proteins)
Wize Concept
Not all proteins have all the above functions. Each protein is specialized! One protein might be an enzyme, while others are antibodies used in defense - STRUCTURE DETERMINES FUNCTION.