Protein metabolism is the set of biochemical processes by which organisms synthesize proteins from amino acids and break down proteins and amino acids for energy, recycling, and the production of nitrogenous compounds. It encompasses anabolic pathways, in which amino acids are assembled into peptides and proteins th…
Protein metabolism is the set of biochemical processes by which organisms synthesize proteins from amino acids and break down proteins and amino acids for energy, recycling, and the production of nitrogenous compounds. It encompasses anabolic pathways, in which amino acids are assembled into peptides and proteins through transcription and translation under the control of nutritional and hormonal signals, and catabolic pathways, in which dietary and tissue proteins are degraded by proteolysis to free amino acids. These amino acids are then used to build new proteins, deaminated and channeled into energy production and gluconeogenesis, or converted to other molecules, with the resulting nitrogen disposed of largely as urea. Protein turnover supports tissue growth and repair, immune function, enzyme and hormone production, and the maintenance of nitrogen balance, and it is regulated by enzymes and by hormones such as insulin and growth hormone, as well as by amino-acid and overall nutrient availability. Dysregulation of protein metabolism is implicated in metabolic disorders, including diabetes and conditions associated with altered energy balance. The study of protein metabolism integrates biochemistry, nutrition, and physiology, drawing on metabolomic and bioinformatic methods to characterize amino-acid handling, metabolic pathways, and their disturbance in disease states.
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