The finishing touches

A cell makes proteins by joining together amino acids into long chains. As they are made, the chains begin to take on their complex shapes. Scientists have worked out the 3D shapes of many human proteins. This knowledge is essential for understanding how each protein works. Many proteins need to combine with other proteins before they can do their job. Sometimes fats or carbohydrates attach to the protein.

Proteins, like this antibody, have complex 3D shapes. Mike Clark, Cambridge University