Proteins are a class of macromolecular organic compounds that are essential to life. They consist of a long polypeptide chain that usually adopts a single stable three-dimensional structure. They fulfill a wide variety of functions including providing structural stability to cells, catalyze chemical reactions that produce or store energy or synthesize other biomolecules including nucleic acids and proteins, transport essential nutrients, or serve other roles such as signal transduction. They are selectively transported to various compartments of the cell or in some cases, secreted from the cell.
This list aims to organize information on how proteins are most often classified: by structure, by function, or by location.
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