Proteins: Explained

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You might already know that proteins are a fundamental part of your diet, but they're much more than that.
LEARN MORE
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To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords:
- Amino acids: are organic compounds that contain amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH) functional groups, along with a side chain specific to each amino acid.
- Proteins: are macromolecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Most proteins fold into unique 3D structures. The shape into which a protein naturally folds is known as its native conformation.
- Alpha helix (α-helix): is a common motif in the secondary structure of proteins and is a right hand-helix conformation in which every backbone N−H group hydrogen bonds to the backbone C=O group of the amino acid located four residues earlier along the protein sequence.
- Beta sheet (β-sheet): is a common motif of the regular protein secondary structure and consists of beta strands (β-strands) connected laterally by at least two or three backbone hydrogen bonds, forming a generally twisted, pleated sheet.
- Ribbon diagrams: are 3D schematic representations of protein structure that shows the overall path and organization of the protein backbone in 3D. Ribbon diagrams are generated by interpolating a smooth curve through the polypeptide backbone. α-helices are shown as coiled ribbons or thick tubes, β-strands as arrows, and non-repetitive coils or loops as lines or thin tubes.
CREDITS
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Ever Salazar | Co-Writer, Narrator, Illustrator and Director
David Wych | Co-writer and Consultant
Aldo de Vos, Know Art | Music
MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC
neptunestudios.info
OUR STAFF
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Sarah Berman • Arcadi Garcia Rius • David Goldenberg
Julián Gustavo Gómez • Melissa Hayes • Alex Reich
Henry Reich • Peter Reich • Leonardo Souza
Ever Salazar • Kate Yoshida
OUR LINKS
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KZbin | / minuteearth
TikTok | / minuteearth
Twitter | / minuteearth
Instagram | / minute_earth
Facebook | / minuteearth
Website | minuteearth.com
Apple Podcasts| podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
OTHER CREDITS & REFERENCES
**********************************
Goodsell, David (2006). Visual Methods from Atoms to Cells. Structure 13, Issue 3:347-354. doi:10.1016/j.str.2005.01.012
Protein 3D images created using Mol* (molstar.org/) and structure data from RCSB PDB (www.rcsb.org/)
Mol* (D. Sehnal, A.S. Rose, J. Kovca, S.K. Burley, S. Velankar (2018) Mol*: Towards a common library and tools for web molecular graphics MolVA/EuroVis Proceedings. doi:10.2312/molva.20181103)
Villin folding trajectory by Stefan Doerr - figshare.com/authors/Stefan_D...
Clathrin Structure (PDB ID: 3IYV)
Fotin, A., et al (2004). Molecular model for a complete clathrin lattice from electron cryomicroscopy. Nature 432: 573-579. doi:10.1038/nature03079
Immunoglobulin Structure (PDB IDs: 1IGT & 1IGY)
Harris, L.J., et al (1998). Crystallographic structure of an intact IgG1 monoclonal antibody. J Mol Biol 275: 861-872. doi:10.1006/jmbi.1997.1508
ATP Synthase Structure (PDB IDs: 5ARE, 5ARI & 5FIL)
Zhou, A., et al (2015). Structure and conformational states of the bovine mitochondrial ATP synthase by cryo-EM. ELife, 4. doi:10.7554/eLife.10180
RCSB PDB Molecule of the Month by David S. Goodsell (The Scripps Research Institute and the RCSB PDB) - pdb101.rcsb.org/motm/72
Photosystem II (PDB ID: 5XNL)
Su, X., et al (2017). Structure and assembly mechanism of plant C2S2M2-type PSII-LHCII supercomplex. Science 357: 815-820. doi:10.1126/science.aan0327
Ribonuclease (PDB ID: 2AAS)
Santoro, J., et al (1993). High-resolution three-dimensional structure of ribonuclease A in solution by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. J Mol Biol 229: 722-734. doi:10.1006/jmbi.1993.1075
Myosin (PDB ID: 1B7T)
Houdusse, A., et al (1999). Atomic structure of scallop myosin subfragment S1 complexed with MgADP: a novel conformation of the myosin head. Cell 97: 459-470. doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80756-4

[@MinuteEarth]

Thanks for watching! Videos like this are possible thanks to amazing people like you! To learn more, visit www.patreon.com/MinuteEarth or click "JOIN". Thanks!

[@zyansheep]

MUSCLES Edit: noice protein visualizations

[@joshuaadamstithakayoutubel2490]

I made a video about protein synthesis, so yeah

[@cutebunny8181]

@@zyansheep muscles BIG

[@TacticalAnt420]

Guys why is there a comment from 3 hours ago?!

[@zyansheep]

@@TacticalAnt420 patreon

[@enduringbird]

I'm a biology tutor and this is the best, most useful, highest quality teaching tool for proteins I've ever seen. It's the video I've dreamed of. Thank you.

[@domj3698]

This video is like a sprint through my A-level biology textbook

[@closmasmas9080]

Yeah I took AP Biology last year, and it was a nice speedy review

[@IHateUniqueUsernames]

It also feels like a good introduction to older children to start questioning and learning more about the subject, and get a correct foundation idea.

[@izzyTOOfly33]

Haha..*sprint*

[@skyshooter7259]

Man the level of complexity inside everything is mindboggling

[@Zippyser]

It's even more complex than that. But at the same time it's not.

[@raincloud.9205]

It can feel really overwhelming too haha

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

And it all starts by simple steps building up into more complex ones. A "bottom up" method. Simple amino acids combine in multiple ways to produce proteins. And enzymes. Enzymes are proteins. Simple sugars combine to form polymers. Starch, cellulose, glycogen. Simple nucleic acids are brought together along with Ribose (or deoxyribose) into RNA or DNA Simple fatty acids plus glycerol combine to form lipids (fats/oils). All of these together are brought together in a cell... One little step at a time. Each molecule can and does exist on its own. But there is NO design!

[@mohamedsoliman8065]

Some people think it was made by accident 🤣🤣🤣

[@ucanhtranvu1554]

Did you mean protein boggling?

[@akhiljindal5450]

As someone who studies computational modeling of proteins, thank you for making this.

[@tcesarmarcelo]

Cool!

[@mazedude5911]

Cool 😎

[@mazedude5911]

Whoever sees this just keep on saying cool till you can

[@jayoctopus8832]

@@tcesarmarcelo cool

[@dgoldenberg]

Cool

[@angrywolfjr7164]

fun fact, acidic levels and heat, can totally change the shape of the proteins which makes it either lose or slightly slow it's function, this is due to low temps slowing the movement of particals, high heat breaking protein bonds, and acidic changes effect the electrical charge a protein has, this is why boiling water makes it safe, you destroy all the bactira protiens, while freezing things temporarly pauses all the enzymes (which are protiens) from working

[@mazedude5911]

🤩

[@mazedude5911]

Wow 🤩

[@genmapi]

It's called denaturing

[@jawxin]

Seriously, if this were how chemistry was explained when I went to high school, I would've become a scientist. After watching this video, molecules, bonds, etc make much more sense.

[@nuklearboysymbiote]

Many things are interesting with the right presentation! I'm sure what you ended up persuing is as valuable as what you could've, sometimes it's down to random chance and the butterfly effect :)

[@PJ3232PJ]

You probably wouldn't understand this at the age when you went to high-school, don't underestimate that.

[@CoffeeD_1]

@@PJ3232PJ Pretty sure I understood it mostly when I was in highschool. It may just be the lack of a good teacher

[@Tinky1rs]

@@PJ3232PJ But...you get this stuff in high school? I learnt this at 14-15 in biology.

[@aroace6801]

@@Tinky1rs i learned this when i was 10-11

[@jacobwolfe3002]

I'm getting a PhD in structural biology, and I plan to share this to help explain my work. Thank you for making this!

[@OmeGardian]

you could help them by subscribing to their patreon, for their great work

[@zacharymaneja1207]

What a great supporter

[@jholotanbest2688]

Wait, this is absolutely fascinating and I need to know more.

[@alrycaaeveahexendias1236]

I know! I thought it was just getting started, but the video is suddenly over. This needs a 10-15 min video.

[@YuvalAyalon2011]

Consider studying molecular biology. It gets better and better

[@pvic6959]

what I learned: your muscles are jiggling around a little bit _right now_

[@jamesmnguyen]

There are a few animated videos of proteins and other cellular processes on YT. I'd start with the cell division process where there is literally *legs* that walk along a tube to carry signals.

[@mazedude5911]

Wow 🤩

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

What are Spanish proteins made of? Amigo-acids

[@theabirde]

Haha 😆!

[@nothing-mm8ui]

e

[@tempestousshadow]

:D

[@hasanmuhammad6651]

lol

[@ThePigeonBrain]

Only if they're friendly

[@ZeeengMicro]

Your explanation of the basic correlation between Amino Acid and Protein is way too good. My 200 pages book I got from school can't even handle it.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

knowledge is the best protein

[@darrellshepherd9948]

It hurts me to say your right

[@MrBeesness]

Thanks Kim!

[@ireallyhatemakingupnamesfo1758]

You know what I love even more than protein? Knowledge

[@sciencewithtom]

I love this video. Total game-changer for helping to introduce proteins to my students!

[@yonatanbeer3475]

I'm loving these representation videos form Ever.

[@Nullzeros]

Speaking of proteins, you should do a video on Prions.

[@vtron9832]

I second this!

[@Freikinator]

And I minute it...

[@epauletshark3793]

*plauge Inc. Intensifies*

[@theemissary1313]

I have learned more about proteins in a nearly four minute video than i did in nearly four years of science in secondary school. Totally saving this for my kids to learn from in the future!

[@self-proclaimednimwit2263]

His accent sounds so cool

[@thatamericangamer7230]

@yems 1.6.0.3 oh he has a KZbin channel in spanishbut last upload in 6 years

[@guff-rx6cu]

He sounds indian

[@lanhod]

@@guff-rx6cu hah. you can tell it's not indian after a few calls to microsoft customer service centre

[@FobazF]

I really wanted you to mention the term catalysis in this video as that's what they do as shown with PSII and ATP Synthase - making chemical reactions go faster or making energetically impossible reaction to happen. Great video anyway proteins deserve more love!

[@zairazaira_]

Just downloaded Tab for a Cause! It's a great initiative, thank you MinuteEarth for showing us

[@otters72]

Amazingly clear video. This was an utterly fantastic way of representing the various visual representations of proteins. I feel ideas finally clicking in my head after years of reading about the general concepts. Thank you!

[@MGSLurmey]

I love this! Please do more videos like this explaining the reality of often misunderstood concepts in science!

[@m.c.nooyen453]

Amazing video, one of the best visual representation of proteins, wish I had this when I was in school!

[@Lennert_hd]

This is an amazing little video. Just the scale of topics it touches upon is staggering. It gave me flashbacks to my Biochemistry courses.

[@ronit.r.roy_0795]

One of the best MinuteEarth videos I've seen.👍❤️

[@woodfur00]

There is nothing better than these videos from Ever going "hey I recently got obsessed with this topic for no reason, here's what I learned" The enthusiasm is raw and it's contagious

[@grim_reaper_2151]

Woah this is soo cool, I always knew proteins were more than the surface, but I never thought it actually went this deep, thx minute earth for making this so simple to understand

[@Prettylittleyou]

The vulpix was so cute tho-

[@leonardovaldivia5200]

Furry=Cringe

[@dustsans9859]

That one Commenter Who likes Y.T. Videos what?

[@chillphil967]

Excellent. Please do more videos (playlist?) on technical biology in this format!

[@UnPuntoCircular]

"Ever's Molecular World"

[@vtron9832]

Thank you for explaining proteins MinuteEarth team!

[@zertilus]

Not only is all of this immensely impressive, but the fact that there is potential for mastering and complex understanding and manipulating and engineering with this information is astounding and amazes me. I hope to see a future where it is used for things like helping humans like 3D printing food or human regeneration or biology mimicking materials.

[@zertilus]

Perhaps even robotic drones on the protein scale, controlled wirelessly and has a camera

[@KnowArt]

This video might've taken a lot more time, but I think it turned out absolutely wonderful! It's impossible to say "better" because other video's are _also_ super great, but I feel that this video has even more in-depth information that's still accessible, uses a bigger palette of animation styles ánd is more engaging with the sound effects and custom music. But that last part might be my own bias... hahaha Great work Ever and David!

[@UnPuntoCircular]

Thank you Aldo!

[@zidaryn]

I knew about proteins and what not, but I didn't realize they were so small and what was being represented with ribbon diagrams. Thanks a ton for the clarification.

[@Channelqinyang]

Such a great illustration! Thank you!

[@shih-haowang4788]

Thanks for this high-quality content!! It's comprehensive and worth more than an introductory biology lecture

[@Noukz37]

Thank you so much for explaining (and drawing?) this! Amazing work!

[@gheim5693]

Wow, super well explained! Thanks for this video!! :)

[@banaanipassifin4159]

2:17 This is me, a stable person

[@thedarkermoon7914]

**sudden wheezing**

[@PotionsMaster666]

This such a good quality content, 😭I want more...

[@Clockworkbio]

oh really?

[@dustsans9859]

Indeed, not like in a priso... I mean school

[@ButtKraken01]

Excellent explanations and animations!

[@Felix-cm5fg]

Wow those animations are sooo good!

[@warrenarnold]

you are the best. this was educational and interesting at the same time. now i understand when i see them ahaa the ribbon diagrams. and damn the animations, my God! on point and very intuitive damn you are such a great team thank you we love you.

[@kennarajora6532]

it's really strange, because were learning about protein synthesis in school. This was very helpful. Thanks.

[@miajar]

Why did I watch this video late? It was great at explaining proteins, something that would be very useful for the project I spent hours on yesterday 🙄 But I guess it's better to understand it late than never!

[@thisjt]

2:38 Fun fact: That ATP Synthase process involves an actual (molecular) motor pumping ions across the membrane.

[@annaelrick7930]

Really helpful video, thanks!

[@darwinjohnson9851]

I love PROTEINS, and I also like the way you illustrated your protein molecules and this video puts me one step closer to MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.

[@Bushido192]

Awesome episode, Ever!

[@lynxlagoon]

this is so insane to think about, how did evolution even come up with this

[@Nosirrbro]

By taking its sweet time

[@scptime1188]

It didn't really "come up" with anything. If you start with some basic DNA that is able to mutate and change, it's not hard to see how these things (proteins and molecules) are selected for over time.

[@mazedude5911]

Wow 🤩

[@mazedude5911]

You you don’t know just ask evolution you’re part of it

[@c_004]

The Vulpix mid-jump is adorable!

[@chasingbadger3340]

Well and simply explained. This is basically all i study in school

[@CG_Hali]

OMG! This explains so much!!!

[@jessicaorisaaclaemmle6905]

By the end I couldn’t stop thinking how much amino acids seem like Conway’s Game of Life. lol Edit was spelling change

[@metametodo]

You really could argue that in essence they follow the same principles. Atomic, molecular forces and interaction are also based on few universal laws that scale into major patterns emerging from the previous level.

[@mahxylim7983]

thank you minuteearth

[@RainierKine]

I didn't learn anything new. *But the animation is So So Good* . I wish I had this when I studied biochemistry.

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

no kiddink! It would have made so much more sense back then...

[@nuerax1726]

YOU MONSTER!!!! YOU MADE ME FINALLY SMART thank you.

[@the_hanged_clown]

I didn't know I needed this

[@NullNoxproduction]

See the more I know the more unsettling life becomes, so unique molecules with cool structures and shapes clicking around are proteins. Also the way you explained their movements seems strange to me, I want to ask can sound affect molecules or are the sound wavelengths too long to interfere with the molecular world? I need to look these stuff up because you raised farther questions for me. It is also fascinating seeing the representation of molecules moving, it has been a great insight. Thank you for a great video by the way ♥️💯

[@user-bp8yg3ko1r]

Very well made!

[@kayo6689]

in summary: *they be jiggling*

[@jacktietjen]

The animation at 1:51 made me gasp because it's something I've been imagining internally for years but have never actually seen!! This is exactly how I imagine proteins folding so cool to see it irl wow

[@Possumman93]

Hey! You should look in to something called “Molecular Dynamics simulations.” That’s how ever and I created the folding animation, it’s actually my day job as a grad student ;) very cool and not that hard to get started with!

[@user-jk8vh3cw2x]

this was very useful in my college class today

[@les_crow]

liked in a heartbeat.

[@imranhelmi3867]

The animation is soo cool! How do you made it?

[@duhduhvesta]

Thank you

[@eenayeah]

I like how jittery the animations of the proteins were!

[@Jar.Headed]

Can we please have a table showing the amino acids?

[@curtisnewton895]

great video

[@kitsune_tail6692]

Make this go to top Minute earth pls do something about scorpion flys it would mean a lot to me

[@yuricahere]

therapist: proteins vibin' cant hurt you, proteins vibin' arent real 2:35

[@sharpwavethedecepticon6837]

Could you talk about prions next? Along with the disease CWD?

[@IWouldLikeToRemainAnonymous]

I remember when I learnt in school about this fact regarding proteins. They make up everything and are very complex because they literally do almost all tasks in any given cell of any given organism. Some cells are relatively easier like fat cells which simply stores fat but even then do proteins play a part in filling, emptying and regulating the contents of the fat cell. WE. ARE. PROTEINS.

[@mossmice568]

I love that you put pokemon in nearly all your videos :]

[@kareem5916]

I just had a test about this yesterday

[@ancientswordrage]

Woah, that's a great video

[@PrincessPeriodFart]

I already have Tab for a Cause installed, but I'm so glad to see them getting more publicity! I have ~40 hearts I can donate, gonna send them all to Action Against Hunger right now to make up for the $1 they missed out on from my download

[@zwojack7285]

wish I had this back in school in Chemistry..

[@casuallyuncalm9488]

Stable arrangement of proteins as the entire structure wiggles wildly

[@AlexandreJWKlaus]

as you did one on proteins, could you do one on prions?

[@Judgement915]

I could listen to this man read the phone book

[@andy-kg5fb]

I really like these videos with ever

[@Amitdas-gk2it]

TY 😊

[@kike_zeron]

I loved this video how simple you explained the information, but also the animation of it was so so beautiful, please translate it to Spanish or if you want I can translate it for you, or I could sent you the voice translation for it, contact me if you want my help.

[@UnPuntoCircular]

Tengo pendiente hacer la traducción para publicarlo en MinutoDeLaTierra. ¡Quizá la próxima semana esté listo! Gracias

[@kike_zeron]

@@UnPuntoCircular Excelente, espero el video entonces!!!

[@cubeofcheese5574]

Seeing and thinking about proteins in this way reminds me of Conway's Game of Life

[@sorengaming1541]

bruh this channel got me using tab for a cause for about 4 years oof

[@DxsPro]

great vid

[@justsomepersononyoutube9271]

Thanks

[@Jasmic0137]

Proteins are beautiful and so is this video!

[@JerryFlowersIII]

I've been using Tab for a Cause for like a decade. I haven't donated hearts in a while so I'll donate them all to Action Against Hunger.

[@KuruGDI]

@ Tab4aCause: "This browser isn't supported Tab for a Cause is for Chrome and Edge browsers on desktop computers. Please switch browsers to get a better new tab page!"

[@debtrunner7929]

holy shit, can you make a longer more fleshed out version please?

[@SlyPearTree]

Until now I thought that only a few plants contained proteins. Thank you.

[@kelviniyun9735]

Nice videos

[@NorbertFuto]

wow wow wow, great video

[@eliscerebralrecyclingbin7812]

Wow thanks

[@MlorenDraymeer]

Something I've always wondered: If every cell of every organism contains lots of protein, then why are some foods described as high in protein? What's the difference? Do they just have a higher ratio and if so why are some cells higher in protein than others?

[@drag7703]

I finally know what the hell where those curly colored spaghetti

[@Paul-jq1wo]

holy shite this video is structured so well

[@gesa7781]

Amazing how something can make us sad and depressed but it's actually dancing

[@JairSalinas]

Ya te extrañábamos Ever

[@UnPuntoCircular]

[@xontxer6625]

Idea for next video: How does Factories work?