ABSTRACT
A majority of the naturally occurring conjugated proteins are glycoproteins. Glycoproteins include the mucin in saliva as well as the conjugated proteins of plasma, collagen, ovalbumin, and plant agglutinins. Gelatin, for example, is of animal origin yet is an incomplete or imbalanced protein because it does not meet all of the amino acids the body needs when it is the sole dietary protein. The edema of protein deficiency may also be the result of the body's inability to synthesize the protein hormones, particularly antidiuretic hormone, which plays a role in controlling water balance. Most of the products of protein degradation join the body's amino acid pool, from which the synthetic processes withdraw their needed supply. Although the proteases of digestion are important to the degradation of dietary protein, they have no role in the intracellular protein degradation. At present, protein intake recommendations are given as a DRI rather than RDA.
