proteins

Cultural  

1. Complex organic molecules (see also organic molecule) made up of amino acids. Proteins are basic components of all living cells and are therefore among the principal substances that make up the body. In addition to being necessary for the growth and repair of the body's tissues, proteins provide energy and act as enzymes that control chemical reactions in the cell.

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Foods that contain a high percentage of protein include meat, fish, poultry, milk products, beans, and nuts.

Example Sentences

Sir Demis, chief executive of Google's AI company DeepMind, used AI to predict the structures of almost all known proteins and created a tool called AlphaFold2.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

In 2024, computer scientist Sir Demis Hassabis shared the Nobel prize for Chemistry for "revolutionary" work on proteins, the building blocks of life.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Some of the strongest shifts involved proteins linked to the extracellular matrix, which helps provide structural support for tissues and organs, including neurons in the brain.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

Scientists also identified changes connected to proteins involved in brain support structures.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

Nearly every cellular function—metabolism, respiration, cell division, self-defense, waste disposal, secretion, signaling, growth, even cellular death—requires proteins.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee