Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Peptides are shorter than proteins and lack the complex three-dimensional structure of proteins. There are several classes of peptides including signaling peptides like hormones, antimicrobial peptides involved in immune response, and small peptides that act as neurotransmitters or drug compounds.
Some key things to know about peptides:
- Peptides are assembled as strands of amino acids: Amino acids are linked together via peptide bonds to form the peptide chain. The sequence and number of amino acids determine the peptide's structure and function.
- Peptides have biological activity: Many peptides play important signaling roles in organisms. For example, insulin is a peptide hormone that regulates glucose levels in the bloodstream.
- Peptides can act as drugs: Pharmaceutical companies are developing new peptide-based drugs. For instance, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) acts to increase insulin release for diabetes treatment.
Now let's get into more peptide details:
How many amino acids make up a peptide?
- Peptides typically contain less than 50 amino acids. Once a peptide chain exceeds that length, it is more commonly referred to as a protein. That said, the boundaries between peptides and proteins can get a bit fuzzy.
What gives peptides their structure?
- While lacking complex 3D shape, peptides can form simple structural motifs like helices and sheets stabilized by hydrogen bonding between peptide groups in the chain. Proline tends to disrupt these structures with its unusual geometry.
How are peptides named?
- Naming conventions vary, but peptides are often named for their structure or function rather than specific sequence. Terms like bradykinin, oxytocin and endorphin tell you something about what those peptides do in the body.
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