Peptide - Vibrant Life Center

What is a peptide?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Typically, peptides contain less than 50 amino acids. Anything longer would be considered a protein.

Peptides play several critical roles in the human body:

• Cell signaling - Peptides relay messages between cells to coordinate bodily functions. For example, insulin is a peptide hormone that regulates blood glucose levels.
• Immune defense - Antimicrobial peptides ward off invading viruses and bacteria.
• Tissue support - Peptides in collagen provide structure and elasticity to skin and other tissues.

How are peptides formed?

Peptides form when amino acids link together via peptide bonds:

Amino acid 1   Amino acid 2 = Dipeptide

As more amino acids join, they can form tripeptides, tetrapeptides, etc.

Key properties of peptides:

• Size - Shorter than proteins, limited to under 50 amino acids.
• Composition - Contain chains of 2-50 amino acid residues.
• Function - Play vital roles in cell signaling, immunity, nerve transmission, etc.
• Synthesis - Formed by linking amino acids via peptide bonds.

What's the difference between peptides and proteins?

While peptides and proteins have similar building blocks, they differ in size and structure:

• Size - Peptides are smaller, with less than 50 amino acids. Proteins are larger, with over 50 amino acids.
• Structure - Peptides have a simple, linear structure. Proteins often have complex 3D shapes.
• Function - Smaller peptides play signaling roles. Larger proteins have more diverse functions.

So in summary, peptides are short amino acid chains that signal between cells. Proteins are longer, more complex molecules with structural and functional roles. The key difference is size - under 50 amino acids for peptides vs over 50 for proteins.

For more information, please visit the Vibrant Life Center.