What kind of biological function would each of the following proteins perform?
a. Human growth hormone

Question

What kind of biological function would each of the following proteins perform?

a. Human growth hormone

Accepted Answer

All right. Hi, everyone. So this question is asking us to determine the biological function performed by the given protein collagen option A says storage protein option B says structural protein option C says protective protein and option D says transport protein. Now recall first and foremost, that proteins refer to a class of biomolecules found in the body that are made up primarily of amino acids, right? So these amino acids can connect with each other and fold into themselves to create these complex three dimensional structures that can vary among individual proteins. That's why proteins can have a variety of different functions. But before we get into the different categories of proteins organized by their function, I want to talk very briefly about what collagen actually is and where it's found. So a few things to recall about collagen collagen is a protein, of course, that can be found in your skin, the tendons that connect muscles to bones, the bones themselves and the ligaments that tether bones to each other. Now, collagen is characteristically very rigid and in addition to this, it is resistant to any structural changes associated with being stretched. So the reason why this information matters is because the rigidity and the resistance to stretching is what makes collagen a very important constituent or a very important important component of the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. So essentially, if we take a small section of our skin, for example, then collagen is necessary to create a matrix in the extracellular space that promotes the structural integrity of the tissues in between individual cells. Right. So by maintaining its structure, we can keep the characteristic shape of the skin, our tendons, our bones, et cetera. So naturally, right over time and especially in our skin, these collagen fibers begin to loosen their grip that they have on the this extracellular matrix which over time can cause wrinkles. Not that that's a bad thing, but that's simply what happens. So now that we know a little bit more about what collagen does, I want to talk about each individual and your choice and see which matches the description of a protein like collagen. Option. A here says storage protein. Now the word storage of course implies that something important is being held for later use. And that makes sense given that storage proteins are responsible for keeping in stock vital substances or when the body requires their use. Option C on the other hand, protective protein is used to describe proteins that are responsible for protecting the body against potential pathogens that might cause illness. Whereas transport proteins for option D are responsible for transporting vital substances either inside or outside of cells or across body fluids, for example, throughout your blood. Now, the reason why I left option B for last is because Option B structural protein describes proteins that are meant to offer structural support. So what they do is that they help to maintain the foundation of a certain structure and make sure that that structure can maintain its shape over time. And according to our description of collagen earlier in the video, right, collagen does in fact provide support and mechanical shape to the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. So that means that it is in fact a structural protein and option B is our correct answer and there you have it. Now these four answer choices are not the only categories of protein that exists, right? We have enzymes, hormones, et cetera. But based on this, we are able to conclude that collagen is an example of a structural protein. So with that being said, thank you so very much for watching and I hope you found this helpful.

What kind of biological function would each of the following proteins perform?
a. Human growth hormone

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Endocrine System

Hormonal Regulation

What kind of biological function would each of the following proteins perform?a. Human growth hormone

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Endocrine System

Hormonal Regulation

What kind of biological function would each of the following proteins perform?
a. Human growth hormone