Protein Functions Part II - Formation of Essential Body Compounds

The various compounds (enzymes and hormones) needed to make the body function properly are proteins or amino acids, or they are derived from proteins or amino acids. Enzymes, including those responsible for digestion, are the most obvious examples, but there are many more.

Many hormones (such as insulin, gastrin and growth hormones such as estrogen and progesterone in women and testosterone in men) are produced by various glands in the body including proteins and peptides. The oxygen molecules needed to oxidize food molecules during respiration are transported through the blood by hemoglobin protein, which also provides red blood.

Almost all of the substances responsible for blood clotting are proteins. The photoreceptor in the eye, which initiates the nerve signals responsible for vision as they absorb light, is protein.

Epinephrine (adrenaline), a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland, originates from the amino acid tryptophan as a precursor to niacin vitamins and also to serotonin an important neurotransmitter involved in transmitting neural signals from one nerve cell to another. Serotonin and melatonin are neurotransmitters that play a key role in providing sound sleep.

If the diet is low in protein, the essential synthesis of these compounds seems to take precedence over the less important protein synthesis such as skin and hair. Therefore, deterioration in skin and hair condition is one of the earliest signs of protein deficiency.

Protein Functions Part II - Formation of Essential Body Compounds


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