Peptides are short chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 20 common amino acids, each with a unique structure.
Amino acids connect through a process called peptide bond formation. This involves a link between the carboxyl group (-COOH) of one amino acid and the amino group (-NH2) of another, releasing water.
The difference between peptides and proteins lies in size. Proteins are longer chains (typically over 50 amino acids), while peptides are shorter (generally 2-50 amino acids). Peptides are smaller building blocks used to construct larger proteins.
Examples of peptides and their functions include:
Peptides are important in research and medicine because of their relatively small size, making them easier to study and manipulate than proteins. Applications include:
In summary, peptides are crucial small molecules with diverse functions in the body. Their significance in research and medicine is continuously expanding.
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