polypeptides
Linked amino acids
Polypeptides is the plural of polypeptide, a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
In biochemistry, polypeptides are the building blocks of proteins—a single protein may consist of one or more polypeptide chains folded into complex shapes.
Short chains are called peptides; longer ones qualify as polypeptides, though the boundary is fuzzy.
The ribosome assembles polypeptides according to genetic instructions.
Cellular translation machinery
- translationConverting between languages
- mRNAGene's working copy
- tRNAAmino acid transporter molecule
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
transcription · gene expression · elongation · initiation · termination · codons · chaperones · folding
Pancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- glucagonPancreatic blood-sugar raiser
- oxytocinBonding neurotransmitter from hypothalamus
- vasopressinFluid-conserving pituitary hormone
- prolactinMilk-production hormone
Organic compounds forming proteins
- foldingBending something over itself
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- residuesWhat's left after processing
- N-terminusPolypeptide's starting residue
C-terminus · backbone · tripeptides · polymers · macromolecules · conformation · domains · motifs
Accelerating reactions without consumption
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- proteaseProtein-cleaving enzyme
- peptidaseBond-cleaving enzyme
hydrolysis · zymogen · cofactor · specificity · cleavage · trypsin · pepsin
Proteins binding specific molecules
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- growth factorsProteins stimulating cell proliferation
- neuropeptidesSmall neural signaling proteins
- transductionSignal or energy transformation
kinase · phosphorylation · interleukins · interferons · neurotransmitters · substance P
Protective blood proteins
- heavy chainLarger antibody polypeptide
- epitopeAntibody binding region
- monoclonalFrom single ancestor cell
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
Determining element order
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- electrophoresisField-driven particle separation
- recombinantGenetically engineered combination
ribosomes
Cellular translation machinery
- translationConverting between languages
- mRNAGene's working copy
- tRNAAmino acid transporter molecule
biosynthesis · transcription · gene expression · elongation · initiation · termination · codons · chaperones · folding · endoplasmic reticulum
insulin
Pancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- glucagonPancreatic blood-sugar raiser
- oxytocinBonding neurotransmitter from hypothalamus
- vasopressinFluid-conserving pituitary hormone
prolactin · leptin · ghrelin · ACTH · endorphins · secretin · gastrin
amino acids
Organic compounds forming proteins
- foldingBending something over itself
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- residuesWhat's left after processing
N-terminus · C-terminus · backbone · tripeptides · polymers · macromolecules · conformation · domains · motifs
catalysis
Accelerating reactions without consumption
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- proteaseProtein-cleaving enzyme
peptidase · hydrolysis · zymogen · cofactor · specificity · cleavage · trypsin · pepsin
receptors
Proteins binding specific molecules
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- growth factorsProteins stimulating cell proliferation
- neuropeptidesSmall neural signaling proteins
transduction · kinase · phosphorylation · interleukins · interferons · neurotransmitters · substance P
immunoglobulins
Protective blood proteins
- heavy chainLarger antibody polypeptide
- epitopeAntibody binding region
- monoclonalFrom single ancestor cell
sequencing
Determining element order
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- electrophoresisField-driven particle separation
- BiomoleculesDNA, protein, RNA, enzyme, mRNA
- biopolymersbiopolymers, cellulose, chitin, DNA, RNA
- peptidesdipeptide, tripeptides, pentapeptide, amino acid, amino acids
- amino acidsalanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine
- digestive enzymesamylase, lipase, protease, pepsin, trypsin
- proenzymeszymogen, proenzyme, pepsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, prothrombin
polypeptidespolysaccharides
Multi-unit sugar polymers
lipids · nucleic acids · carbohydrates · nucleotides · monosaccharides