Type of Proteins | Function | Example |
---|---|---|
Enzymatic Protein | Selective acceleration of Chemicals | Digestive enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of the polymers in the food. |
Structural Proteins | Support | Insects and spiders use silk fibers to make their cocoons and webs, respectively. Collagen and elastin provide a fibrous framework in animal connective tissues. Keratin is protein of hair, bones, feathers and other skin appendages. |
Storage Proteins | Storage of amino acids | Ovalbumin is the protein of egg white used as an amino source for the developing embryo. Casein is a protein that is found in milk and used independently in many foods as a binding agent. Plants have storage proteins in their seeds. |
Transport Proteins | Transport of other substances | Hemoglobin, the iron containing protein of vertebrate blood, transports oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. Other proteins transport molecules across cell membrane. |
Hormonal Proteins | Coordination of an organism's activities | Insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, helps regulate the concentration of sugar in the blood of vertebrates. |
Receptor Proteins | Response of Cell to Chemical Stimuli | Receptors built into the membrane of a nerve cell, detect chemical signals released by other nerve cells. |
Contractile and motor Proteins | Movement | Actin and myosin are responsible for the movement of muscles. Other proteins are responsible for the undulations of the organelles called cilia and flagella. |
Defensive Proteins | Protection against disease | Antibodies combat with bacteria and viruses. |