Peptide - Balance Medical Clinic

Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Typically, peptides contain less than 50 amino acids. Anything longer is considered a protein. Peptides serve many important biological functions. For example:

• Some peptides act as chemical messengers and signaling molecules. These peptide hormones and neurotransmitters play vital communication roles between cells. Examples include insulin, glucagon, and endorphins.
• Other peptides help build protein structures. These short amino acid chains often fold into specific 3D shapes and support the framework of large protein molecules.
• Certain peptides also have antimicrobial properties, protecting the body against viruses and bacteria.

How Are Peptides Formed?

Peptides form when amino acids link together via condensation reactions. An amide bond, known as a peptide bond, forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of the next.

"Peptides are made up of a string of amino acids linked by peptide bonds."

For example:

Amino acid 1 -COOH   H2N-Amino acid 2 → H2O   Peptide bond

As more amino acids join, they create unbranched peptide chains.

Key Properties of Peptides

Compared to larger proteins, peptides share these defining traits:

• Small size - Peptides contain less than 50 amino acids. Proteins are longer, with over 100 amino acids.
• Simple structure - Peptides have a simpler, more linear shape compared to complex folded proteins.
• Solubility - Short peptide chains tend to be water-soluble.
• Stability - Peptides are less stable than proteins due to their small size.

What Are Some Examples of Peptides?

Many peptides play critical biological roles. For instance:

• Oxytocin promotes social bonding, childbirth contractions, and lactation.
• Endorphins relieve pain and create feelings of euphoria.
• Carnosine functions as an antioxidant.
• Glutathione detoxifies harmful compounds in liver cells.

Synthetic peptides also have medical uses. For example, the peptide drugs liraglutide and exenatide mimic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to stimulate insulin production in diabetes patients.

I hope this overview on peptides helps explain what they are, how they form, their properties, and some examples of their biological functions! For more information, you can visit the Balance Medical Clinic.