Science
What is Proteins?
Proteins are large molecules built from chains of amino acids that do most of the work in living cells. They build tissues, speed up reactions (as enzymes), carry signals, and defend the body.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains proteins.
Key things to understand
- 1Made of amino acids folded into specific 3D shapes.
- 2Their shape determines their job — structure, enzymes, transport, defense.
- 3DNA holds the instructions for building each protein.
- 4We get amino acids to build them from the food we eat.
Frequently asked questions
- What do proteins do?
- They build and repair tissue, act as enzymes, carry molecules, and form antibodies — doing most cellular work.
- What are proteins made of?
- Chains of smaller building blocks called amino acids, folded into specific shapes.
- How are proteins made?
- Cells read instructions in DNA to assemble amino acids into the right protein.