Page 184 - The Miracle of Protein

182 THE MIRACLE OF PROTEIN

proteins in plasma, some found in lymph nodes. These pro-
teins' most important feature is their ability to distinguish cells
belonging to the body from foreign substances, and to swiftly
eliminate the latter. The very important question to consider

right at this point is: How do these proteins manage to accom-
plish such a difficult task? Proteins, composed of specific com-
binations of inanimate atoms, can identify foreign and harmful
microbes, even though they have no sensory systems to per-
ceive, nor brains with which to interpret their perceptions.

In addition to targeting foreign substances entering the
body, antibodies can also combine with them and create perfect
three-dimensional compounds with specific molecules or mol-
ecular components identified as foreign to the body, in other
words, the antigens.