What do globular proteins typically function as?

Globular proteins primarily function as catalysts, which is a crucial role in biological processes. These proteins, also known as enzymes, facilitate and accelerate chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for those reactions to occur. This function is vital in numerous physiological processes, including digestion, metabolism, and cellular signaling.

Enzymes exhibit high specificity for their substrates and can be regulated, allowing them to respond quickly to changes in the environment or conditions within a cell. Because of their globular shape, these proteins tend to be soluble in water, enabling them to easily interact with a variety of molecules in a biological system.

While globular proteins can have varied functions—including roles in transport and signaling—catalysis remains one of their most important and characteristic functions. Other protein types, such as fibrous proteins, typically serve structural roles and are not primarily involved in catalysis. Similarly, while some proteins are involved in storage or providing structural support, these functions are not characteristic of globular proteins specifically.