The process used to link amino acids together is called a condensation reaction or dehydration synthesis. In this process, an -OH group is lost from the carboxyl group of one amino acid, and a hydrogen atom is lost from the amino group of a second amino acid. This results in the release of a water molecule and the formation of a covalent bond known as a peptide bond (or amide bond) between the two amino acids. The peptide bond connects the carboxyl carbon of one amino acid to the amino nitrogen of the next amino acid, resulting in a chain of amino acids known as a peptide or polypeptide. This chain forms the backbone structure of proteins. In summary:
- The process is a condensation (dehydration synthesis) reaction.
- It links amino acids by forming peptide bonds.
- A molecule of water is released during the bond formation.
This is the fundamental mechanism by which proteins are synthesized from amino acids. The peptide bond formation is catalyzed by enzymes in biological systems, and energy is required for the reaction to proceed.
