Polymerisation of Amino Acids

• Two amino acids can be linked by a CONDENSATION reaction (removal of a water molecule)

• This creates a PEPTIDE BOND between the Carbon atom in the acid group and the Nitrogen atom in the amine group

• The resulting molecule is called a DIPEPTIDE

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• A chain of amino acids can be built up in this way - it is called a POLYPEPTIDE

• A protein may contain just one polypeptide or may have two or more chains that interact

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