What are amino acids responsible for in protein synthesis?

Amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of proteins, playing a crucial role in protein synthesis. During this process, amino acids join together in specific sequences to form polypeptides, which then fold into functional proteins. Each protein has a unique sequence of amino acids that determines its structure and function, making this subunit critical for the overall process of protein synthesis.

The other choices refer to different roles and characteristics that are not directly related to the core function of amino acids in protein synthesis. For instance, while some enzymes are proteins that can indeed be soluble in water, amino acids themselves do not dissolve specifically to form enzymes. Moreover, amino acids are not primarily energy storage molecules; organisms typically store energy in carbohydrates and fats. Finally, while amino acids can be produced as byproducts during the degradation of proteins, this is distinct from their primary role as the subunits used in building new proteins. Thus, the assertion that amino acids are the subunits from which proteins are made is foundational to understanding their function in biological systems.