What are Structural Proteins?
Our body’s biological components are fluid in nature, Structural proteins provide rigidity and stiffness to them.
Whatever amount of protein exists in our body, its quarter portion incorporates collagen, which is the most common and abundant structural protein.
Examples of Structural Proteins: Collagen, elastin, laminin, fibronectin, etc.
Other proteins that participate in structural functioning: Motor proteins (kinesin, myosin, dynein)
How Do Structural Proteins Look?
The microscope shows that structural proteins appear like woven long fibers.
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The structural components of our body are made of structural proteins that are found in cells, bones, hair, nails, skin, hooves, feathers, and few animal shells.
Contributors in Movement and Elasticity
They help in the movement of the cells and providing the internal structure to cells. Other than contributing to providing structures to specific cells, collagen is used in ligaments, tendons, and vessels. It also helps in giving the skin elasticity and the skin gets wrinkles when it lacks.
Majorly Found Substance
Do you know after water, protein is the most abundantly found substance of our body, which is responsible for 15 to 20% of body weight? So, for weight-watchers who want to lose fat or gain weight, it’s time to shake hands with protein, and know more about it!
Structural Protein as Building Material: Helps in Making of Body Cells
The production work of cells keeps going in our body, but where do these body cells come from? The answer is ‘our food’ which provides protein as raw material for the construction of our bodybuilding.
The tissues, which make the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and kidney, are made of proteins that contribute to the making of our muscles, veins, arteries, and bones.
This essential nutrient works as the building material for the tissues (especially muscles) and fluids (except urine and bile).
Our body’s most complex substance, protein is made of various combinations of amino acids that contain nitrogen. About 20 types of amino acids combine to make about 100 types of intricate chemical structures and patterns that make complex proteins.
Among these 20 amino acids, 12 amino acids can be produced within our body, but the other 8 amino acids, known as essential amino acids, can’t be synthesized by the body itself. We need to fulfill their requirements through our nutritious diet that incorporates protein sources. Here too, all the foods include different nutrients and varying nutritional values, so one cannot rely on one food and needs to supply different sources of proteins to the body through a healthy diet.
Important Element of Blood Functions
When we eat protein-rich food like milk, cheese, beans, peas, eggs, or meat, our digestive system breaks the food proteins. The blood absorbs this protein in the form of its basic unit, that is, amino acids. Then our body enzymes recombine these amino acids in specific combinations and sequences to reproduce the desired proteins. Thus as per the requirement and desire of our body, proteins are used to fulfill the special needs of our body, for example, building muscles, the making of red blood cells, etc.
Protein Use in Red Blood Cells
Proteins play the role of transporters being in domains, a place inside blood cells. They are also found at and near the cell membrane's circumference. Other than transport, they are used in defense and formation work as well. Even when we get injuries, it is the protein that plays a vital role in the clotting process.
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Proteins Strengthen the Body
Although our body posses the skills and ability to build its building blocks with available amino acids in the body, yet it results in just a weak building. For making a strong body with strength, the raw material needs to be with all the important substances, so that the body works smoothly in the long run. So eat healthy, nutritious, and protein-rich food, considering supplying the right amount of protein to your body.
Structural Component and Maintenance Element
Other than this, protein also works as a structural component and maintenance element for our skin, muscles, eyes, and organs. This is the reason why children are recommended to give more protein sources as they run in a developing and growing state.
The structural protein gives rigidity and stiffness to biological components that are otherwise fluid.
Help in Growth
We need this nutrient for growth too as protein molecules are one of the most plentifully found constituents after water. This is why a mother is supposed to feed milk to the baby in the initial six months. It is an important practice because milk, a highly rich source of protein is essential for the growth of a newborn baby.
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Support in Tissue Repair and Replacement
With normal growth, it repairs the tissue tears and plays its role in tissue replacement as well. After reaching the age of 18 to 23, the human organs grow fully and do not need protein for growth that much. Yet protein is a necessary nutrient for repairing the torn tissues and replacement of the old or dead tissue waste.
Body toxicity is the primary cause of cell degeneration or tissue waste. If you adopt a lifestyle that introduces lesser toxins, the amount of tissue waste in the body can be decreased and so the need for protein.
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