Biological Functions of Protein

Biological functions of proteins are extreamly diverse, described below-

1. Some proteins act as hormones and hence regulate various metabolic processes e.g. insulin is responsible for maintaining blood sugar levels.

2. Some proteins (enzymes) function as catalysts for biological reactions.

3. Some proteins function as biological structural materials, viz. collagen in connective tissue and keratin in hair.

4. Haemoglobin (a protein) acts as oxygen-carrier in mammals. Haemocyanin functions similarly for shell-fish.

5. Some blood proteins function to form antibodies which provide resistance to diseases.

6. Nucleoproteins form the important constituents of the genes that supply and transmit genetic message during cell division.