Proteins are large organic compounds that are made up of amino acids that are arranged in linear pairs. These compounds are joined together by peptide bounds between carboxyl and amino groups of adjacent amino acid residues. Proteins play a major role in ensuring the health of a person. There are innumerable functions of proteins in the body. The primary functions of proteins include building and repairing of body tissues, regulation of body processes and formation of enzymes and hormones.

Enzymes are proteins that facilitate chemical reactions without being changed in the process. The inactive form of an enzyme is called a proenzyme. Hormones that are generally called chemical messengers are proteins that travel to one or more specific target tissues or organs, and many have important regulatory functions. Insulin plays a key role in regulating the amount of glucose in the blood.

The cells in our body performed many different functions and at different times. Enzymes, a type of protein, determine which function and when it occurs. Enzymes control or regulated the various chemical reactions that lead to a particular function. Without enzymes controlling the process, there would be no order and chaos would ensure

Many proteins are neither rigid nor static. They change shape, open and close, twist and turn. This ability to move lets proteins be tiny machines that can grab and release, push or pull. The animations in the related links can give you an idea of the variety of movements that proteins can make. The unique structures and shape shifting enable proteins to be astounding effective catalysts.

Proteins mediate chemical reactions and use oxygen to burn food for energy. These pathways are complex but well studied. The related links show maps of thousands of proteins in the metabolic pathways.

Hormones are proteins that signal between cells usually in the blood. Proteins also send signal from one nerve cell to another. Signaling pathways, however, are usually interactions among proteins within a cell.

Many foods contain protein but the best sources are beef, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds, and legumes like black beans and lentils. Protein builds up, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body.