Protein

Synonyms

Amino acid; Polypeptide

Definition

Protein is a biomolecule consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and a small amount of sulfur with a chain of amino acids forming a complex folded and functional structure. Protein performs several crucial functions in the living entity, such as maintenance and growth of body, transcription factor, chemical messenger, immunogenic substance, energy provider.

Introduction

Protein is considered as one of the major important biomolecules included in our daily diet because of its nutritional and caloric value. The term protein, derived from the Greek word “Proteois,” means primary. The term protein was coined by Swedish chemist Jacob Berzelius in 1839. The structural and functional unit of protein is an amino acid that was unknown even after its discovery in 1830. The 20 standard amino acids are either nutritionally essential or not depending on its synthesis in our body (McCoy et al. 1935). They are coded either in single letter or in...