Hard Drugs Proteins: Weird blobs that do important things
Sep 3, 2025
Explore the wild world of proteins, where complexity reigns and each protein plays a vital role like citizens in a bustling city. Discover how protein folding affects their function and the intriguing relationship between protein sizes and their mRNA counterparts. From the giant Titan to the essential rubisco, learn about key players in biology and their surprising dominance. Plus, delve into the dynamic realm of enzymes, which accelerate reactions and maintain cellular health. Fun facts and playful quizzes make this journey into molecular life truly captivating!
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Cells Are Crowded Molecular Cities
- Cells are extremely crowded and busy with billions of molecules interacting constantly.
- Proteins play diverse roles across the cell like workers, machines, and signaling agents.
Molecular Traffic Is Intense
- The interior of microbes is like Times Square with molecules smashing into each other billions of times per second.
- Bacteria are ~70% water and proteins dominate much of the remaining mass in a tiny volume.
Structure Determines Protein Function
- Proteins are chains of amino acids that fold into complex 3D shapes with pockets and grooves.
- Those shapes enable binding, catalysis, signaling, and formation of larger protein complexes.
