What Do Proteins Do

Question 1

They catalyze reactions

Enzymes

Answer 1

The protein alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) breaks down ethanol in humans and other species. Ethanol is in wine, beer, liquor etc.

In fireflies, the protein luciferase catalyzes a reaction that produces light and helps the big glow

Catalyze- cause (an action or process) to begin

Question 2

Give our body structure

Structural proteins

Answer 2

Collagen is a structural protein that is responsible for how human skin feels. When it breaks down with age, you get sagging and wrinkles. In this image, you can see the collagen is nice and long and connected in the you her skin and all broken up in the older skin

Question 3

Regulate how energy, chemicals, water etc. Move in a cell

(Membrane- transport and carrier proteins

Answer 3

Hemoglobin is a carrier protein that is in red blood cells and moves in a oxygen around our body

Sodium channels are a membrane transport protein that are in nerve cells and are what create action potentials in nerves

Question 4

Regulate when other genes turn on or off (transcription factors, activators and repressors

Answer 4

An example: of a transcription factor is the protein called sex determining region Y. The gene that makes this protein is on the Y chromosome. This protein binds to DNA and turns other genes off and on. Eventually leading the formation of testes.

Question 5

Without proteins…

We wouldn’t..

Answer 5

• Have cell membranes- we would just be a pile of cytoplasms.
• be able to move our muscles
• be able to break down food and beverages
• be able to fight off diseases
• be able to make new proteins

Proteins do everything in our cells