The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.
proteins
(PROH-teenz, PROH-tee-inz) Complex organic molecules made up of amino acids. Proteins are basic components of all living cells and are therefore among the principal substances that make up the body. In addition to being necessary for the growth and repair of the bodys tissues, proteins provide energy and act as enzymes that control chemical reactions in the cell.