3. Proteins

Abstract

This chapter examines proteins, the dominant proportion of cellular machinery, and the relationship between protein structure and function. The multitude of biological processes needed to keep cells functioning are managed in the organism or cell by a massive cohort of proteins, together known as the proteome. The twenty amino acids that make up the bulk of proteins produce the vast array of protein structures. However, amino acids alone do not provide quite enough chemical variety to complete all of the biochemical activity of a cell, so the chapter also explores post-translation modifications. It finishes by looking as some dynamic aspects of proteins, including enzyme kinetics and the protein folding problem.