Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Typically, peptides contain less than 50 amino acids. Longer chains are referred to as proteins.
Key features of peptides:
Types of peptides:
Peptides play many important roles in the human body:
How are peptides formed?
Peptides form when amino acids link together via peptide bonds. This process is called translation or protein synthesis. During this, cellular molecules called ribosomes "read" sequences of genetic code (mRNA) and assemble the corresponding amino acids in the order specified by the code.
"A peptide is like a freight train in which each box car is an amino acid." - Unknown
What are some applications of peptides?
Due to their versatility, peptides have many uses:
In summary, peptides are short chains of amino acids that perform a vast array of key biological functions. From chemical signaling to building muscle and bone, these important molecules impact almost every cell and system in the human body. Understanding peptides can lead to major advances in medicine, health, and anti-aging treatments.