Proteins
Proteins are the building blocks of life and play a decisive role in biological processes. The following examples illustrate their importance and diversity:
- Structural proteins for cells and tissue (e.g. muscle fibres, organs)
- Enzymes (control of metabolism)
- Hormones (e.g. insulin – regulation of blood sugar level)
- Antibodies for immune defence
- Transport proteins (e.g. haemoglobin – transport of oxygen)
- Storage proteins (e.g. ferritin – storage of iron)
- Receptors for biomolecules for signalling (e.g. in nerve cells)
This diversity requires coordinated biosynthesis. The basic building blocks of proteins are amino acids, organic compounds that are strung together like pearls (specific to each protein). The amino acid sequence (primary structure) of a protein is genetically determined in the DNA sequence of an organism. However, proteins only achieve structural stability through interactions between non-adjacent amino acids and thus through folding into higher-level, three-dimensional structures (tertiary structure). In addition to intramolecular interactions (monomer – interaction of amino acids of one protein molecule), intermolecular interactions (dimer, trimer, multimer – interaction of amino acids of two, three or more protein molecules) lead to the formation of complex quaternary structures. These three-dimensional structures are specific to each protein of an organism and are essential for its functionality. Even small errors can lead to a complete loss of function.
The complexity of proteins makes them interesting objects for research and development, both in basic research and in the development and production of biotherapeutics. Particle size, zeta potential/charge, molecular mass, microrheological properties and stability are important and essential protein parameters.
3P Instruments offers instrumental solutions for various questions in protein analysis, such as
- Structural analysis of proteins from known and unknown biological systems
- Comparative structure and/or function analyses of proteins (e.g. to compare native and recombinant proteins or to select desired recombinant candidates)
- Structure-function analyses during process development (upscaling, production, storage, transport)
- Quality control to ensure batch-independent integrity, stability and functionality