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What Are Peptides?
A peptide is a naturally occurring chemical molecule composed of two or more amino acids connected by peptide bonds. A peptide bond is a kind of covalent connection formed by the carboxyl group (C-terminus) of one amino acid reacting with the amino group (N-terminus) of another. This process releases a water molecule and generates a CO-NH bond, which serves as the backbone for a peptide or amide molecule. As a result, peptide bonds are categorized as amide bonds.
The name "peptide" is derived from a Greek word meaning "to digest." Peptides are essential to biology and biochemistry. Thousands of distinct peptides exist naturally in people and animals, with many more being found or created as a result of continuing study. This busy field of research has great potential for future advancements in healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences.
How Peptides Are Formed
Peptides can be produced both inside the body and in laboratory settings. In living organisms, the body naturally makes a variety of peptides, including ribosomal and nonribosomal types. In the lab, modern peptide synthesis techniques allow scientists to create a wide range of custom peptides. Two commonly used methods are liquid phase peptide synthesis and solid phase peptide synthesis. While liquid phase synthesis offers some specialized advantages, solid phase peptide synthesis has become the standard because it is efficient, adaptable, and well suited for automation.
The history of synthetic peptides dates back to 1901, when Emil Fischer, working with Ernest Fourneau, reported the first synthetic peptide. Later, in 1953, Vincent du Vigneaud successfully synthesized oxytocin, marking the first synthetic polypeptide and laying the foundation for today’s peptide research and manufacturing.