proteinn.
/ˈprəʊtiːn/, U.S. /ˈproʊˌtin/ Originally: †a complex, nitrogenous, organic substance obtained from casein, fibrin, and egg albumen, taken to be a distinct compound and regarded as the basic component of a large group of substances essential to living organisms (obsolete). Later: any of this group of substances, which occur in all living organisms, esp. as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, keratin, etc., and as functional components such as enzymes and antibodies. Also as a mass noun: such compounds collectively, esp. as a component of the diet; food consisting chiefly of proteins, as meat, fish, soya beans, etc. Cf. albuminoid n., polypeptide n., proteid n.1Proteins are polymeric macromolecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, usually coiled and folded into complex globular or fibrous structures.When chemical advances in the 19th cent. showed that Mulder's protein was not a single chemical entity, the various substances of which he had considered it the basis continued to be known as protein bodies or substances (German Protëin-stoffe). To render these terms, the term proteids (at first proteides) was used by Henry Watts, in his translation (1871) of Gmelin's Handbook of Chemistry, in the Journal of the Chemical Society, of which he was editor, and in the 11th ed. of Fownes's Man. Elem. Chem. (1873), which he also edited. It became common, though not universal, in English use. However in German, proteïd had been used to designate more complex compounds such as haemoglobin, where a protein is combined with (what is now called) a prosthetic group. To remedy the resulting confusion, a Committee on Proteid Nomenclature was appointed. In 1907 it recommended abandoning the term proteid altogether, and using proteins for what had been called protein bodies. This recommendation was adopted by the International Congress of Physiologists at Heidelberg the same year.conjugated, heat-shock, leaf, motor protein, etc.: see the first element. Also mycoprotein n., phosphoprotein n. at phospho- comb. form , scleroprotein n. at sclero- comb. form 1, etc.
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1844 R. Dunglison Dict. Med. Sci. (ed. 4) 593/2 Protein, a product of the decomposition of albumen, &c., by potassa.
1845 G. E. Day tr. J. F. Simon Animal Chem. I. 5 Protein, in every respect identical with that which forms the basis of the three aforesaid animal principles, may be obtained from similar elements in the vegetable kingdom.
1854 J. S. Bushnan in Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 45 According to a view which has excited much attention, these three proximate elements [sc. albumen, fibrine, and caseine] are merely slightly modified forms of the one proximate element, proteine. Mülder [is] the author of this view.
1886 Science 16 Apr. 342/2 This [nutritive] material the author divides into three different classes—viz., proteines, fats, and carbohydrates.
1896 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. I. 415 In many [foods] the amount of protein is too small.
1907 Rep. Proteid Nomencl. in Proc. Physiol. Soc. 26 Jan. p. xviii The word Protein is recommended as the general name of the whole group... It is at present so used both in America and Germany.
1928 Amer. Mercury Oct. 151/2 I doubt if, off-hand, I could give even a reasonably accurate calculation of the amount of protein I myself ingested last week.
1950 Sci. News 15 103 You and I are composed largely of proteins. And proteins are by far the most complex chemical compounds in our bodies.
1961 P. G. Wodehouse Service with Smile i. 9 A pig, to enjoy health, must consume daily nourishment amounting to fifty-seven thousand eight hundred calories, these to consist of proteins four pounds five ounces, carbohydrates twenty-five pounds.
1984 J. F. Lamb et al. Essent. Physiol. (ed. 2) i. 7 Each protein has its own characteristic sequence of amino acids.
1997 BBC Vegetarian Good Food Feb. 27/3 I'm aware that I need to get enough protein and iron, and I make sure I include plenty of foods such as pulses, leafy green vegetables and tofu.
2008 Women’s Health Mar. 71/1 Heap a salad-size plate with lean protein like chicken or fish and veggies to fill in the nutritional blanks without adding too many calories.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. Designating substances, material, etc., of the nature of or containing protein, as protein compound, protein matter, protein substance, etc. In early use some of these were used as alternatives for the term protein: see note at main sense.
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1844 Western Jrnl. Med. & Surg. Feb. 151 Meat, eggs, bread, and other articles of diet abounding in the protein compounds, should be taken.
1860 Year-bk. Med. 1859 (New Sydenham Soc.) 70 The pancreas as well as the stomach secretes a substance capable of transforming protein matters into peptone.
1875 H. Walton Pract. Treat. Dis. Eye (ed. 3) 734 The protein element, crystallin, is at its least quantity.
1881 St. G. Mivart Cat 250 The ovum is a minute spheroidal mass of protein substance.
1883 Chambers's Encycl. at Protein The term protein bodies, or protein compounds, is..commonly retained both by physiologists and chemists, as being the most convenient one.
1907 Science 13 Sept. 345/2 Ovovitellin is another form of protein compound containing lecithin in available form.
1915 F. B. Hadley Horse in Health & Dis. vii. 117 Hemoglobin is a protein substance.
1933 Times 19 May 10/5 Shellfish, consisting as they do so largely of protein matter, deserve equal consideration with meat and milk.
1997 R. Porter Greatest Benefit to Mankind xi. 330 He developed a neo-humoralism which held that diseases originated in an imbalance of protein substances such as fibrin and albumin in the blood.
b. With the sense ‘of or relating to protein(s)’.
protein chemist n.
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1911 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 33 2054 The present work..is of as much interest to the rubber chemist as to the protein chemist.
1936 C. C. Furnas Next Hundred Years xxvii. 315 The unravelling [of protein structure] apparently lies years and years in the future, so far ahead that most protein chemists will not talk about it.
2001 Trends in Biochem. Sci. 26 268/3 I was not a gifted protein chemist, and I was unable to purify sufficient repressor needed for this project.
protein chemistry n.
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1908 Science Feb. 244/1 To everyone at all familiar with protein chemistry the recent advances in knowledge of the hydrolytic cleavage products of this class of substances are more or less known.
1992 Sci. Amer. Aug. 94/1 Since the late 1970s cellular biology, protein chemistry and bioengineering have opened insights into the ways cells congregate and function.
protein deficiency n.
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1919 Rep. Accessory Food Factors (Vitamines) 96 The protein deficiency which leads to pellagra..may..occur also upon an adequate diet.
2003 Intelligencer (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) 24 Apr. d3/2 In the course of chronic alcohol abuse, protein deficiency may occur.
protein granule n.
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1885 Amer. Naturalist 19 377 The most interesting portion of this chapter is that devoted to plastids (including chlorophyll), protein granules and starch.
1960 E. D. P. De Robertis Gen. Cytol. 527 Frequently liquefaction is preceded by the swelling of the cell and by the appearance of protein granules in the midst of the cytoplasm, which give to it a turbid and characteristically dusty aspect.
1986 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 73 870 Vacuole from freshly frozen wheat endosperm exhibiting protein granules at vacuole periphery.
protein synthesis n.
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1908 Bot. Gaz. 46 390 Is not the fate of the greater part of the carbohydrates to be sought rather in protein synthesis than in ‘incorporation’?
1996 New Scientist 11 May 20/1 Barnase is an enzyme that destroys ribonucleic acids leading to a fatal halt in protein synthesis.
c. Instrumental, parasynthetic, and objective.
protein binding adj. and n.
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1929 R. P. Walton in tr. E. Waldschmidt-Leitz Enzyme Actions & Prop. 143 The protein binding group..is not involved here.
1974 V. B. Mountcastle Med. Physiol. (ed. 13) lxxi. 1707/1 Since the plasma concentration of transcortin is itself a physiologic variable.., it follows that the protein binding of cortisol has clinical implications of some importance.
1997 New Yorker 28 Apr. 146 (advt.) Pravastatin did not alter the plasma protein-binding of warfarin.
protein-bound adj.
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1929 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 68 158 The simple fact that protein-bound —SH exists and that cystin or cysteine is an integral part of the protein molecule is evidence enough that compounds of this type are fundamental constituents of the body substance.
2000 Esquire June 74 (advt.) Administration of Paxil with another tightly protein-bound drug may shift plasma concentrations, resulting in adverse effects.
protein-free adj.
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1908 Proc. Royal Soc. B. 80 406 The preparation of protein-free antitoxin by digesting antitoxic serum with trypsin.
2004 Jrnl. Biotechnol. 108 288/2 Cells grown in our serum-free medium formulation can rapidly and easily be adapted to a completely protein-free medium formulation.
protein-rich adj.
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1907 C. von Noorden et al. Metabolism II. 478 The harm caused in renal disease by a protein rich diet.
2000 A. Bourdain Kitchen Confid. (2001) 48 We woke up a few hours later, covered with flies attracted by the tasty, protein-rich gelée that covered us from head to toe.
protein-synthesizing adj.
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1938 Q. Rev. Biol. 13 155/1 The autocatalysis of genes must represent a reaction mechanics after the manner of the protein-synthesizing enzymes.
1994 N.Y. Times 22 Nov. c3/2 After a picorna virus commandeers protein-synthesizing machinery inside a cell's cytoplasm, it sends messenger molecules out into the cytoplasm where proteins are made.
C2.
protein body n. (a) a protein or proteinaceous substance (now rare); (b) Botany a membrane-bound organelle containing storage proteins which is found in the developing endosperm of a seed.
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1848 J. P. Norton in Amer. Jrnl Sci. 55 22 (heading) Account of some Researches on the Protein bodies of Peas and Almonds, and a Body of somewhat similar nature existing in Oats.
1865 E. Parrish Treat. Pharmacy (ed. 3) iv. iii. 519 With the salts of many heavy metals, they [sc. proteins] form insoluble compounds, mostly containing the protein body, acid and base.
1916 M. A. Carleton Small Grains 12 Very small protein bodies are distributed throughout the seed, but especially in the outer portion of the endosperm.
1918 T. B. Robertson Physical Chem. Proteins i. 3 The close relationship between the various protein bodies is furthermore evinced by the similarity of their physical properties.
2005 Biotechnol. Advances 23 82 In typically nonglutenous cereals such as corn, rice, sorghum and millet, storage proteins remain in protein bodies in the mature grains.
protein engineering n. (a) (perhaps) a branch of technology concerned with increasing the protein content of foodstuffs (rare); (b) the use of genetic and chemical techniques to manipulate the structure and function of a protein so that it acquires specific desired properties; the field of biology concerned with such processes.
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1954 Ames (Iowa) Daily Tribune 4 Jan. 4/5 The subject of his talks was the Food Protein Problem and the development of two new branches of science Protein Economics and Protein Engineering.
1981 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78 5276/1 The difficulties encountered in predicting the conformations of natural proteins do not seem insurmountable obstacles to protein engineering.
2000 N.Y. Times 28 Oct. c4/1 Until now, scientists have improved natural proteins by making specific changes to them, a process called protein engineering.
protein kinase n. Biochemistry any of various enzymes which bring about the phosphorylation of proteins, attaching a phosphate group donated by ATP to a serine, threonine, or tyrosine residue.
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1962 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 65 477 The protein kinase transferred 0.7 μmole P/ml enzyme/h from ATP to the protein.
2002 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 7 May 3 A cell generates a protein called a protein kinase, which plunks little molecular bundles onto other proteins in the cell, altering their shape and thus their function.
protein plastic n. a plastic in which protein is the chief component; esp. a casein plastic.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > plastic > other plastics
hard plastic1896
Galalith1901
Paxolin1918
casein plastic1925
polyvinyl acetate1927
protein plastic1928
Mipolam1936
acrylic1940
styrene plastic1943
bioplastic1946
ABS1957
Noryl1966
1928 Chem. Abstr. 22 4209 Plastics are defined as materials that are horny and elastic at ordinary temp. but can be molded at higher temp. They include (1) cellulose plastics, (2) artificial resins and (3) protein plastics.
1943 H. R. Fleck Plastics iv. 82 The two most widely known and industrially important protein plastics are those formed from casein..and those formed from the proteins present in soya beans.
2005 Polymer 46 2710/2 The application of soy protein plastic is limited because of its low strength and high moisture absorption.
protein shake n. a blended drink resembling a milk shake and high in protein, typically drunk for health purposes (as for muscle gain, weight loss, or increased energy).
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1972 Holland (Mich.) Evening Sentinel 30 Sept. 5 (advt.) Ready-to-drink protein shake.
1999 Times (Nexis) 5 July (Features) From 6am to 8am I write and eat a bowl of oatmeal and a soy protein shake.
2014 C. Hobbs Love Food & live Well 114 Protein shakes are a great way to get a good amount of protein without too much preparation.
protein shock n. Medicine (a) (more fully protein shock therapy) the parenteral administration of a foreign protein so as to produce a physiological state of shock, used in the treatment of a variety of diseases (now historical); (b) a physiological state of shock produced by the parenteral administration of a protein; anaphylactic or anaphylactoid shock.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > metabolic disorders > [noun] > other metabolic disorders
xanthomatosis1900
Tay-Sachs1907
ketosis1917
protein shock1917
hyperinsulinism1924
Niemann–Pick1928
tyrosinosis1932
von Gierke's disease1933
phenylketonuria1935
cystic fibrosis1938
mucoviscidosis1945
cystinosis1949
oxalosis1952
McArdle1957
orotic aciduria1959
PKU1961
sphingolipidosis1962
Reye's syndrome1965
Menkes1969
1917 Jrnl. Exper. Med. 26 699 The mechanism of recovery following the so called ‘protein shock therapy’.
1935 F. P. Gay Agents of Dis. lxiii. 1506 Symptomatic disturbances during protein shock are an increased pulse rate, sweating, decreased blood pressure, [etc.].
1998 Vaccine July 1185/2 Due to the protein shock encountered in some animals vaccinated with broth vaccine, an agar-wash vaccine using the formolin-killed cultures was developed.
protein therapy n. Medicine (a) (more fully foreign protein therapy) protein shock therapy (now historical); (b) treatment with a protein-rich diet; (c) treatment of disease using specific proteins delivered directly to tissues or cells.
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the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > types of treatment generally > [noun] > other miscellaneous treatments
majoration1626
relaxant1661
diaeresis1706
blistering1711
Perkinism1798
tranquillizing1801
tractoration1803
tractorism1827
moxibustion1833
traction1841
remediation1850
moxocausis1857
bed-rest1872
aerotherapeutics1876
aerotherapy1876
metallotherapy1877
block1882
counter-irritation1882
bacteriotherapy1886
mechanotherapy1890
mobilization1890
seismotherapy1901
bacterization1902
replacement therapy1902
biotherapy1912
occupational therapy1915
protein therapy1917
psychophysicotherapeutics1922
recovery programme1922
plombage1933
bacteriostasis1936
oestrogenization1960
hyperalimentation1962
vegetablization1963
pain management1966
palliative care1967
gene therapy1970
1917 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 8 Sept. 766/2 The application of foreign protein therapy to the acute, sub~acute and chronic arthritides.
1948 Amer. Jrnl. Med. 5 264 Methods for better evaluation of the protein nutritional state are suggested, permitting the classification of various types of hypoproteinemia into groups requiring different types of protein therapy.
2005 Jrnl. Hepatol. 43 442/2 One of the major limitations of protein therapy is the difficulty of efficient intracellular delivery of therapeutic proteins.
Derivatives
proˈteinic adj. = proteinaceous adj.
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the world > life > biology > substance > proteins > [adjective]
proteinaceous1844
proteinous1844
proteinic1876
native1931
glycosyl1945
glycosylated1945
microtrabecular1976
polytopic1980
1876 tr. P. Schützenberger On Fermentation 81 Yeast cannot elaborate proteinic matter [Fr. substances protéiques] under these conditions.
1940 F. R. Moulton Cell & Protoplasm 65 Apart from the chemical interactions between the thymonucleic acid and the proteinic hereditary material, which is not yet understood, the chromosome is in many respects a unit in a chemical sense.
1993 Internat. Jrnl. Food Sci. & Nutrition 43 217/1 Much interest has developed concerning the production and anti-microbial activity of bacteriocins.., substances of proteinic nature which are inhibitive to similar organisms as the producer.
proˈteinous adj. = proteinaceous adj.
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the world > life > biology > substance > proteins > [adjective]
proteinaceous1844
proteinous1844
proteinic1876
native1931
glycosyl1945
glycosylated1945
microtrabecular1976
polytopic1980
1844 R. Dunglison Dict. Med. Sci. (ed. 4) (at cited word) A proteinous alimentary principle.
1859 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. 391/1 Nucleated cells; the membranous walls of which consist of a proteinous substance.
1910 Times 1 Feb. 9/5 The dietectic excellence of..some flaccid composition of dubious hue but high proteinous value.
1993 J. Gomez Psychol. & Psychiatric Probl. Men ii. 8 Most important in male adolescents is an increase in muscle mass to almost double, with more proteinous tissue all over the body.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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