Protein are truly wonderful biological molecules that construct nearly every cellular component of every cell of every living organism that exists on Planet Earth. They are the ultimate products of the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology and are synthesized as a result of the complex processes of Transcription and Translation. Proteins come in a variety of shapes and sizes which enables them to perform a plethora of functions in the bodies of organisms, from sending chemical signals between cells to catalyzing chemical reactions. This variety in structure and function ultimately stems from the fundamental sequence and arrangement of amino acids, the monomers of proteins. Although DNA — the vital molecule that serves as the basis for most life on Earth — is required to manufacture protein in cells, protein itself actually came before DNA in the evolutionary timeline of life on Earth. Consequently, DNA, and therefore life, can not exist without protein. This book explores the fascinating world of proteins, including how they are synthesized, their structural levels, and the different functions that they perform to keep organisms functioning optimally.
