ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Protein subunit

Proteins are like tiny little machines inside our bodies that help us do all sorts of things, like move our muscles, digest our food, and even fight off germs. But just like a machine is made up of different parts, proteins are made up of smaller pieces called subunits.

Imagine if you had a big toy robot that you wanted to build. This robot is made up of lots of different parts, like the head, the arms, the legs, and the body. Each of these parts is like a protein subunit. They all fit together perfectly to make the robot work just the way it's supposed to.

Protein subunits work in a similar way. They're like little building blocks that fit together to make a larger protein. Some proteins are made up of just one subunit, while others can be made up of many, many subunits.

These subunits have specific shapes that allow them to fit together with other subunits, kind of like puzzle pieces. This is important because the way these subunits fit together determines how the protein will work.

So when you eat a piece of steak or a handful of nuts, the proteins in those foods get broken down into their subunits in your digestive system. Those subunits can then be reassembled into new proteins that your body can use for all sorts of things, like building muscle or repairing tissue.

In summary, protein subunits are like building blocks that fit together to make larger, functional proteins that do all sorts of important jobs in our bodies.