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4.2.5 Amino acids and peptides
A peptide consists of two or more amino acids linked by a peptide bond formed between the carboxyl (-COOH) group of one amino acid and the amino (-NH2) group of another amino acid releasing one molecule of water. Two amino acids are thus linked to form a dipeptide.
If three amino acids are thus linked, it is a tripeptide and if many amino acids are liked they are called polypeptide. The term oligopeptide refers to a chain of 4 to 10 amino acids where as a polypeptide containing more than 10 amino acids are called proteins. These polypeptide chains twist, fold or coil into different shapes in forming the proteins. |
Last modified: Thursday, 8 December 2011, 7:22 AM