Answer
The property which proteins possess that enables them to carry out specific functions is their structure. Proteins vary greatly in structure, and the wide variety of structures corresponds to the many different functions which proteins perform. Thus, the differing shapes of proteins enable them to interact with specific molecules to carry out specific functions.
Work Step by Step
1. The function that a protein carries out is dictated by how a protein is structured.
2. Broadly, protein structure is differentiated by four distinct categories: primary; secondary; tertiary; and quarternary.
3. There are many different types of protein, each with its own function, but all of them fall within these broad categories of structure.
4. This is the reason why enzymes, a particular type of protein, can bind to a particular substrate to catalyze a chemical reaction. The structure of the enzyme is specific to the substrate to which it binds in order for the reaction to occur.
