Describe the role of protein in maintaining the body's acid-base balance
Proteins also help maintain the balance between acids and bases within the body's fluids. Normal body processes continually produce acids and bases, which must be carried by the blood to the kidneys and lungs for excretion. The blood must do this without upsetting its own acid-base balance. Blood pH is one of the most tightly controlled conditions in the body. If the blood becomes too acidic, vital proteins may undergo denaturation, losing their shape and ability to function. A similar situation arises when there is an excess of base. These imbalances are known as acidosis and alkalosis, respectively, and both can be fatal. Proteins such as albumin in blood help to prevent acid–base imbalances. In a sense, the proteins protect one another by gathering up extra acid (hydrogen) ions when there are too many in the surrounding medium and by releasing them when there are too few. By accepting and releasing hydrogen ions, proteins act as buffers, maintaining the acid-base balance of the blood and body fluids.
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