Protein Was Named the Most Important Thing There Is
Protein is a nutrient and a class of molecules doing most of the work in cells. Its name comes from the Greek for first or primary.
Protein is a class of large molecules built from chains of amino acids, and one of the three main nutrients. The name is a claim: it was coined in 1838 from Greek *proteios*, of first importance, because chemists suspected these substances were the fundamental material of life. They were not far wrong.
- A nutrient found in food. *A high-protein diet.*
- A large biological molecule. *Proteins fold into shapes.*
- Protein as a modifier. *Protein synthesis.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | protein | Dietary protein. |
| Plural | proteins | Blood proteins. |
| Related | amino acid | Twenty amino acids. |
| Related | enzyme | A digestive enzyme. |
| Related | peptide | A short peptide. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Beans are a good source of protein.Nutrition.
- The protein folds into a precise shape.Shape determines function.
- Enzymes are proteins that speed up reactions.Most enzymes, at least.
What proteins do
- Enzymes — speed up chemical reactions
- Structure — collagen and keratin build tissue
- Transport — haemoglobin carries oxygen
- Signalling — many hormones are proteins
- Defence — antibodies recognise invaders
Coined by the Swedish chemist Berzelius and used by Gerardus Mulder in 1838, from Greek *proteios*, of the first rank, from *protos*, first — the same root as *prototype* and *protocol*.
How much protein do people need?
Guidelines commonly suggest around 0.75 to 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight a day for adults, with more for athletes and older people.
What is a complete protein?
A food containing all nine essential amino acids in useful amounts. Mixing plant sources across the day achieves the same result.