Protein

Biological Molecule - Protein

A biomolecule or biological molecule is any molecule that is present in living organisms, including large macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Macro Molecule	Micro Molecule
Carbohydrates	Glucose
Protein	Amino Acid
Lipid	Glycerol  - Fatty acid

Protein:

amino acid:

Proteins are long chains of amino acids. There are thousands of different proteins in the human body. They provide all sorts of functions to help us survive.  Around 20% of our body is made up of proteins. Every cell in our body uses proteins to perform functions.  When a cell makes a protein it is called protein synthesis. The instructions for how to make a protein are held inside the DNA molecule. The two major stages in making a protein are called transcription and translation.in the transcription process. This is when the cell makes a copy of the DNA. The copy of DNA is called RNA because it uses a different type of nucleic acid called “ribonucleic acid”. The RNA is used in the next step, which is the translation stage. In the translation stage, this is when the RNA is converted or translated into a sequence of amino acids that makes up the protein. 

The translation process of making the new protein from the RNA instructions takes place in a complex machine in the cell called the ribosome. The following steps take place in the ribosome.

1.   The RNA moves to the ribosome. This type of RNA is called the "messenger" RNA. It is abbreviated as mRNA where the "m" is for messenger.
2.      The mRNA attaches itself to the ribosome.
3.      The ribosome figures out where to start on the mRNA by finding a special three letter "begin" sequence called a codon.
4.       The ribosome then moves down the strand of mRNA. Every three letters represents another amino acid molecule. The ribosome builds a string of amino acids based on the codes in the mRNA.
5.      When the ribosome sees the "stop" code, it ends the translation and the protein is complete

Interesting Facts about Proteins and Amino Acids

• We get amino acids from basic foods such as chicken, bread, milk, nuts, fish, and eggs.
• Hair is made up of a protein called keratin.
• A special kind of RNA called transfer RNA moves the amino acids to the ribosome. It is abbreviated as tRNA where the "t" stands for transfer.
• The bonds that link the amino acids in a protein together are called peptide bonds.
• The arrangement and type of different amino acids along the protein strand determines the function of the protein.