Protein – what is it and which functions does it have in our bodies?
Protein is built up of amino acids, which in turn are built of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (H), and sometimes also sulfur (S). In total there is 20 different amino acids that varies in length between 50 and thousands amino acids in a row. Protein can look very different, depending on the order of amino acids the protein can have different forms, it can be round, flat, long or spiral shaped. The composition of amino acids and the length of the chain determine which protein is formed.
There are also shorter chains of amino acids, these are called peptides. The line between peptides and protein is 50 amino acids in a row, so a chain of 49 amino acids is a peptide and a chain with more than 50 amino acids is a protein.
Protein has many different functions in our bodies, most people probably knows that our muscles are built of protein. Proteins that build our muscles are able to contract and extend which is vital for our mobility. But protein has a lot of different functions. Except for muscles, protein also functions as building blocks for our bodies cells, tissues and bone structure. Protein is a part of our connective tissue where is gives form and structure, the connective tissue gives statute and keep our organs and other tissues in place. The most common protein here is collagen, which is tough and durable and gives structure to the connective tissue, skin and tendons.
Protein is also necessary for our bloods ability to coagulate and to stop an eventual bleed. Some proteins also have a part in regulating the water levels and pH-value in our bodies. Protein also functions as transporters and protectors. The protective proteins, immunoglobins, with other words – antibodies, deals with and neutralizes bacteria and other foreign substances from our environment. Out of the proteins that functions as transporters, some are specialized on one nutrient, the most famous one is probably hemoglobin, which gives the blood its red color and transports oxygen from our lungs to the rest of the cells in our bodies. And then there is protein that functions as more general transporters.
Our cells are dependent on a communicative system and some proteins also functions as informants, our body uses peptides and proteins as informants in different communication systems. Protein is also needed to make hormones, enzymes and parts of our immune system. One example is the hormone insulin, which is produced in pancreas, goes out in our blood circulation and to our muscles, where it helps the blood sugars to enter the cells in order to be used as fuel. A very important function is as enzyme. Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions without being used themselves. Some have the task to divide component to smaller pieces and some enzymes manufactures new substances. Most enzymes are specialized but there are also some that are more general. We have about 1 500 different enzymes in our bodies. You can read more about how much protein our bodies need here: https://elifestyle-se.myshopify.com/blogs/nyheter/how-much-protein-do-we-need