Peptides are short chains of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds. Peptides are distinguished from proteins on the basis of size, as a peptide contains 50 or fewer amino acids, whereas a protein comprises more than 50 amino acids. Peptides serve a variety of important biological functions.
Some key things to know about peptides:
- Peptides are synthesized ribosomally on ribosomes. The sequence of amino acids in a peptide is encoded by mRNA.
- Peptides may be linear or circular. Some peptides have been found to naturally form circular structures, which can enhance their stability and biological activity.
- Peptides are involved in many biological processes including immune response, hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, and more. Many peptides act as signaling molecules between cells.
- Peptides hormones like oxytocin, vasopressin, and insulin are vital for regulation of physiological processes. Other peptides like endorphin act as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the brain.
- Some peptides have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer or antioxidant properties and are being studied for their therapeutic potential.
- Peptides play a key role in the food industry, providing beneficial functional and sensory properties in processed foods.
Now that we have covered the basics, let's go over some key examples of important peptides:
- Glutathione is an antioxidant tripeptide critical for cellular health. It protects cells from oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species.
- Oxytocin, the "love hormone", is a neuropeptide involved in social bonding, reproduction, and childbirth.
- Angiotensin II is a peptide hormone that causes vasoconstriction and increases blood pressure. It plays a key role in the renin-angiotensin system that regulates blood pressure.
- Aspartame is an artificial sweetener dipeptide commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages.
- Opioid peptides like endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins bind to opioid receptors and are involved in pain relief and reward pathways.
There are many other important peptides like glucagon, bradykinin, melanocortins etc. Peptide research is an exciting field with huge scope for drug development and therapeutic use.
At Hormone Harmony, we offer cutting-edge peptide hormone replacement therapies to help patients optimize their health and wellbeing. Our expert physicians customize peptide treatment plans to target specific needs like anti-aging, muscle growth, weight loss, sexual health, injury recovery and more. We use only the highest quality bioidentical peptides to restore hormonal balance and rejuvenate the body safely and effectively. Contact us today to learn more about how peptide therapy can benefit you!