St.

Xavier’s College, Mahuadanr

BIOLOGICAL ROLE OF PROTEIN

Membrane Proteins
Proteins and lipids form the major structural components of cell membrane. The
membrane associated proteins consists of intrinsic proteins and extrinsic proteins.
Many enzymes and enzyme systems are associated with membrane proteins i.e.
components of electron transport system.

Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins produced within an organism which are capable of catalyzing
specific catalytic reactions. They are biocatalysts which influence the rate f a chemical
reaction, usually without undergoing any change themselves.

Hormones
Several hormones are peptides and proteins. They play an important role in the
regulation of metabolic reactions.

Blood proteins
The blood proteins include plasma proteins and haemoglobin.
(a) Plasma proteins are mainly albumin, globulins and fibrinogen. Albumin maintains
the colloid osmotic pressure of plasma and transport materials. Globulins inhibit
proteolytic enzymes, and helps to immunosystem of the body. Fibrinogen helps in
blood clotting. Lipoproteins are concerned with transport of fat in blood.
(b) Haemoglobin is a conjugated protein consisting ofglobin and haeme. Haemoglobin
carries oxygen in the form of oxyhaemoglobin in blood.

Antibodies
Some antibodies like gramicidin S, tyrocidin and penicillin G are peptides.

Nucleoproteins
These are conjugated proteins of cell nuclei.

Multiple protein Assemblies

These contain several compounds which together from a functional unit.
(a) Collagen: A fibrous proteins found in many connective tissue.
(b) Flagella: Microtubules of flagella are made up of tubules.
(c) Actionmyosm complex of muscle: Muscle fibres consists of thin filaments of
action, tropomyosin and troponin which make up the 1 or light bands and thick
filaments of myosin which make up the A or dark bands.

Department of Botany Asst. Prof. Sr. Kaslin Juliat