A beginner’s guide to understanding peptides

Nature is simultaneously complicated and beautiful. The inner mechanisms of living things are so technical and intricate that understanding the nuances of them becomes all the more important. This article will explore the different aspects related to peptides.

What are peptides?

  • Peptides refer to short amino acid chains. The amino acid chains within peptides are connected to each other by bonds known as peptide bonds. Although both proteins and peptides are composed of amino acids the difference between them is that peptides are shorter in length. 
  • Peptides are made up of two or three amino acid chains. Proteins on the other hand are made of long molecules that include peptide subunits. These peptide subunits are called polypeptides. So basically, polypeptides that have approximately more than 50 amino acids are called proteins. 
  • When enzymes digest protein they break it down into small peptide fragments. In cells as well, peptides perform functions that are biological in nature such as acting like hormones. Since peptides are considered the building block of proteins that are essential for life, research in this field is ongoing.

Uses:

Peptides are made in labs to resemble as closely as possible those naturally found in the human body. Lab-made peptides have been recently used in medicines as diverse as diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

Research has found that peptides also have many advantageous effects on the skin, weight and muscles. Hence pharmaceuticals and companies have started selling many skincare products and supplements with peptides in them.   

Functions:

The body has different types of peptides and each one of them serves a distinct purpose. Although research on peptides is still underway a few identified benefits have been listed below:

Slows down physical ageing   

A type of peptides that exist in the skin are known as collagen peptides and they help in making elastin and collagen both of which are proteins that prevail in healthy skin. Thus, applying external quantities of similar peptides on the skin can help skin look younger and slow down the visible effects of ageing on it. 

Muscle growth

The peptides known as collagen and creatine are known to help boost muscle repair and muscle growth and hence are becoming increasingly common in the market. 

Weight loss –

Although research in this area is still very new it has been found that certain peptides can help with weight loss. 

Skin barrier – 

There exist antimicrobial peptides that are extremely instrumental in wound healing and fighting bacteria in the human body.

Supply for research:

To conduct appropriate research in the field of peptides, the substance has to be correctly synthesized and lyophilized. Without receiving the highest quality of synthesized peptides labs cannot conduct accurate research and hence companies like biotech peptides that supply peptides for lab use and research are currently in demand.           

Conclusion:

As explained above peptides are short chains of amino acid chains that combine to form proteins. The use of peptides has been highlighted above along with the sources of acquiring the compound. The simplistic nature of the information provided above makes it an ideal beginners guide to understanding peptides.

A beginner’s guide to understanding peptides

Nature is simultaneously complicated and beautiful. The inner mechanisms of living things are so technical and intricate that understanding the nuances of them becomes all the more important. This article will explore the different aspects related to peptides.

What are peptides?

  • Peptides refer to short amino acid chains. The amino acid chains within peptides are connected to each other by bonds known as peptide bonds. Although both proteins and peptides are composed of amino acids the difference between them is that peptides are shorter in length. 
  • Peptides are made up of two or three amino acid chains. Proteins on the other hand are made of long molecules that include peptide subunits. These peptide subunits are called polypeptides. So basically, polypeptides that have approximately more than 50 amino acids are called proteins. 
  • When enzymes digest protein they break it down into small peptide fragments. In cells as well, peptides perform functions that are biological in nature such as acting like hormones. Since peptides are considered the building block of proteins that are essential for life, research in this field is ongoing.

Uses:

Peptides are made in labs to resemble as closely as possible those naturally found in the human body. Lab-made peptides have been recently used in medicines as diverse as diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

Research has found that peptides also have many advantageous effects on the skin, weight and muscles. Hence pharmaceuticals and companies have started selling many skincare products and supplements with peptides in them.   

Functions:

The body has different types of peptides and each one of them serves a distinct purpose. Although research on peptides is still underway a few identified benefits have been listed below:

Slows down physical ageing   

A type of peptides that exist in the skin are known as collagen peptides and they help in making elastin and collagen both of which are proteins that prevail in healthy skin. Thus, applying external quantities of similar peptides on the skin can help skin look younger and slow down the visible effects of ageing on it. 

Muscle growth

The peptides known as collagen and creatine are known to help boost muscle repair and muscle growth and hence are becoming increasingly common in the market. 

Weight loss –

Although research in this area is still very new it has been found that certain peptides can help with weight loss. 

Skin barrier – 

There exist antimicrobial peptides that are extremely instrumental in wound healing and fighting bacteria in the human body.

Supply for research:

To conduct appropriate research in the field of peptides, the substance has to be correctly synthesized and lyophilized. Without receiving the highest quality of synthesized peptides labs cannot conduct accurate research and hence companies like biotech peptides that supply peptides for lab use and research are currently in demand.           

Conclusion:

As explained above peptides are short chains of amino acid chains that combine to form proteins. The use of peptides has been highlighted above along with the sources of acquiring the compound. The simplistic nature of the information provided above makes it an ideal beginners guide to understanding peptides.

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Phoenix Asher Holmes: Phoenix, a neuroscience researcher, shares insights about the brain, mental health, and cognitive enhancement techniques.