Page 93 - The Miracle in the Cell

HARUN YAHYA

ife without proteins is impossible. Not only
the basic building blocks of the body, they
also compose the enzymes and hormones
that are vitally important to human life.
These complex protein molecules are spe-
cialized for vital duties and reactions in the
body, such as facilitating coordination and continuing the
basic functions of life.
This chapter will look at the extraordinary structure of proteins
and the incredibly difficult processes in the body facilitated by mech-
anisms that they carry out.
Consider that billions of these processes are going on at every
second, and you can more clearly understand that complexity of this
system within the body is beyond our comprehension.
Twenty different types of amino acids found in nature are used
in protein structure. Actually, depending on the number used and
their order, an infinite number of proteins can be made from only
these 20 different amino acids. If you compare any protein to a chain,
amino acids are the links in the chain. The number of amino acids in
different protein types within living things is between 100 and 3,000.
Random removal, addition, or changing of the order of just one amino
acid in the chain would render the protein completely useless, and in
fact harmful.
Along with the location and number of amino acids, the three-
dimensional geometry of the protein they form is also extremely
important (see Figure 5.1). It's not enough for the amino acids to be of
the right number and in the right place, they also need to fold at cer-
tain points to form a shape that lets the protein carry out its duty. To
allow these folds to take place, amino acids located at sites to be fold-
ed are joined by much weaker bonds, which facilitates folding at the

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