BASED ON FUNCTION/ USES

biochemical catalyst

Catalytic

Protect body’s immune system/response

Defense

carries oxygen from the lungs to other

organs and tissues.

• carries iron from the liver to the bone

marrow

Transport

transmit signals to coordinate biochemical

processes between different cells, tissues,

and organs

Messenger

necessary for all forms of movement

Contractile

confer stiffness and rigidity to otherwise fluid-

like biochemical

Structural

bind (and store) small molecules for future use

Storage

Act as sites at which messenger molecules,

like insulin, can bind and thereby initiate the

effect that the messenger “carries.”

Are often the molecules that bind to enzymes

(catalytic proteins), thereby turning them “on”

and “off” and thus controlling enzymatic

action.

Regulatory

function as gateways to permit the transport of

specific substances across the membrane

Transmembrane

particularly important in the early stages of

life, from embryo to infant.

Nutrient

part of the system by which the acid-base

balance within body fluids is maintained

Buffer

help maintain fluid balance between blood

and surrounding tissue

Fluid Balance