General Protein Functions Flashcards
Enzymes
catalyze covalent bond breakage/formation
Structural Proteins
provide mechanical support to cells and tissues
Transport Proteins
carry small molecules/ions
Motor Proteins
generate movement in cells and tissues
Storage Proteins
store amino acids/ions
Signal Proteins
carry extracellular signals from cell to cell
Receptor Proteins
detect signals and transmit them to the cell’s response machinery
Transcription Regulators
bind to DNA to switch genes on/off
Special-Purpose Proteins
highly variable functions
Alcohol Dehydrogenase
enzyme
makes the alcohol in wine
Pepsin
enzyme
degrades dietary proteins in the stomach
Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase
enzyme
helps convert CO2 into sugars in plants
DNA Polymerase
enzyme
copies DNA
Protein Kinase
enzyme
adds a phosphate to a protein
Collagen
structural protein
common constituent of ECM
forms fibers in tendons and ligaments
Elastin
structural protein
common constituent of ECM
forms fibers in tendons and ligaments
Tubulin
structural protein
forms long, stiff microtubules inside cell
Actin
structural protein
forms filaments that support plasma membrane
Keratin
structural protein
forms fibers that reinforce epithelial cells
major protein in hair and horns
Serum Albumin
transport protein
carries lipids
Hemoglobin
transport protein
carries oxygen
Transferrin
transport protein
carries iron
Bacteriorhodopsin
transport protein
light-activated H+ pump
transports protons out of the cell (bacteria)
Glucose Transporters
transport protein
shuttle glucose into and out of cells
Calcium Pumps
transport protein
clears calcium ions from a muscle cell’s cytosol after the ions have triggered a contraction
Insulin
signal protein
controls glucose levels in the blood
Netrin
signal protein
attracts growing nerve cell axons to specific locations in the developing spinal cord
Nerve Growth Factor
signal protein
stimulates some types of nerve cells to grow axons
Epidermal Growth Factor
signal protein
stimulates the growth and division of epithelial cells
Ferritin
storage protein
binds to iron and stores it in the liver
Ovalbumin
storage protein
stores amino acids in egg white for developing bird embryo
Casein
storage protein
stores amino acids in milk for baby mammals
Myosin
motor protein
provides motive force for humans to move
skeletal muscle cells
Kinesin
motor protein
interacts with microtubules to move organelles around the cell
Dynein
motor protein
enables eukaryotic cilia and flagella to beat
Rhodopsin
receptor protein
detects light in the retina
Acetylcholine Receptor
receptor protein
activated by acetylcholine released from a nerve ending
Insulin Receptor
receptor protein
allows a cell to respond to insulin by taking up glucose
Adrenergic Receptor
receptor protein
increases rate of heartbeat when it binds to epinephrine secreted by adrenal gland
Lac Repressor
transcription regulator
silences genes in bacteria for enzymes that degrade lactose sugar
DNA-binding Proteins
transcription regulator
act as genetic switches to control development in multicellular organisms
Antifreeze Proteins
special-purpose protein
protect blood of Arctic/Antarctic fishes from freezing
Green Fluorescent Protein
special-purpose protein
emits green light in jellyfish
Monellin
special-purpose protein
provides sweet taste to an African plant
Glue Proteins
special-purpose protein
secreted by mussels to attach to rocks
