Proteins play a crucial role in our bodies beyond just being nutrients in food. They are essential for almost every life-sustaining reaction within us. When health issues arise, proteins are often involved.
In specific heart conditions, such as certain types of heart disease, high-resolution microscopy reveals disordered proteins in cardiac tissue. Professor Alex Dunn compares these proteins to beams in a house – when unhealthy, all beams are out of place.
Acting as workhorses within cells, proteins enable vital biochemical processes necessary for life. Enzymes accelerate reactions by binding to other molecules while antibodies prevent viruses from infecting cells.
“Proteins facilitate cellular movement and signal transmission that regulate gene expression levels,” explains Associate Professor Polly Fordyce from bioengineering and genetics.
Studying how proteins function aids in understanding how they organize into larger structures and optimize their roles for medical, industrial, and various applications - motivating Stanford engineers to explore these molecules extensively.
The intricate secrets of proteins lie within their complex structures as Assistant Professor Brian Hie elaborates. Composed of amino acid chains forming helices, pleats, folds creating three-dimensional shapes; multiple protein bonding results in complex formations impacting overall function.
2024-12-05 09:15:02
Article from phys.org