Proteins are large, complex, organic molecules made up of **amino acids**.
	- Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
	- Found in plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses
- Major functions of protein in the body:
	- To build new cells and many parts of cells
	- As a component in hardened structures like hair and nails
	- As enzymes to speed chemical reactions
	- As lubricants to ease movement
	- In clotting compounds in blood
	- To build antibodies that fight disease organisms
	- As compounds that help maintain fluid and pH balance
	- As transporters
	- To make certain hormones
	- As an energy source (as a last resort)
# Introduction
- By helping to maintain fluid balance, proteins prevent **edema** (accumulation of fluid in tissues
- Proteins also help maintain **acid-base balance**.
	- Maintaining the proper pH of body fluids
	- Acts as a buffer

# Amino acids
- Amino acids are nitrogen containing chemical units that comprise proteins
- There are 20 different amino acids found in the proteins of the human body
- Each amino acid has a carbon atom that anchors
	- Hydrogen atom
	- Amino or nitrogen containing group
	- R group (side chain)
	- carboxylic acid group
- nonessential amino acids are a group of amino acids that the body can make
- Essential amino acids are amino acids the body cannot make or cannot make enough of to meet its needs
- Conditionally essential amino acids are the amino acids the body cannot make or cannot make enough of to meet its needs
- There are 9 essential acids and 11 non-essential acids

| Essential                    | Nonessential  |
| ---------------------------- | ------------- |
| Histidine                    | Alanine       |
| Isoleucine                   | Aspartic acid |
| Leucine                      | Asparagine    |
| Lysine                       | Glutanic acid |
| Methionine                   | Serine        |
| Phenylanaline                | Argine        |
| Threonine                    | Cysteine      |
| Tryptophan (extra important) | GLutamine     |
| Valine                       | Glycine       |
|                              | Proline       |
|                              | Tyrosine      |
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# Synthesis
A specific order of amino acids is needed to formulate a protein. 

# DNA
- DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) provides instructions for making proteins.
	- **Genes** are a portion of DNA
	- To make proteins, cells assemble amino acids into specific sequences according to information from DNA
- A **peptide bond** is a chemical attraction that connects two amino acids together
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