What Are Peptides?

What Are Peptides

“Peptide” is a short word that describes a group of molecules that are composed of chains of amino acids. These amino acid chains form a protein molecule by linking together – through peptide bonds – to create a specific sequence or polymer.

In general, the term “peptide” specifically refers to smaller proteins made from two or more bonded amino acids. In comparison, larger protein molecules are referred to as “polypeptides,” while individual amino acids are called by their one-letter abbreviations (e.g., “P,” “E,” etc.). Peptides can be composed of just a few amino acids in some cases, while some proteins have hundreds of different types of amino acids.

In order to understand peptides, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the components from which they are made: an amino acid is a linear chain made up of carbon and nitrogen atoms that include an amino group and a carboxylic acid group. These groups can link together with other molecules through either their acid or amine group.

What Are Peptides Used For?

Because peptides are composed of amino acids, they act as the building blocks for proteins. Some peptides can be produced naturally in the body before processing into other molecules that contribute to healthy function or development. For example, the hormone oxytocin is a peptide that helps control social behavior and reproduction.

Some other types of peptides do not exist naturally in organic tissues but can be created through artificial synthesis instead. These types of synthesized “peptides” are typically used in medical research to study disease processes or promote healing for different types of injuries (e.g., wounds, and burns). Other types of synthetic peptides may act as mimics to simulate certain functions without having their own biological activity (e.g., decoy receptor molecules).

What is Peptide Therapy?

Some peptides, called “therapeutic peptides,” are designed for use in medical treatments. The FDA approved the first therapeutic peptide, somatropin (a treatment to treat growth hormone deficiency disorders), in 1985. Peptide therapies today can be used like conventional drugs, and some may offer benefits over traditional medicine as well:

Targeted Delivery

Some types of peptides can selectively target certain cells or tissues more than others; this helps ensure that the drug only affects the intended area and not other areas throughout the body.

Lower Dosage Requirements

Smaller doses of peptide drugs may produce fewer side effects than larger doses of traditional pharmaceuticals. Smaller doses can make it easier to use higher concentrations of a particular peptide drug, which can lead to faster or more complete healing for some types of medical conditions.

Peptides Can Be Beneficial For You

Peptides are beneficial therapeutic substances that are used to treat medical conditions in a similar way as traditional drugs. However, peptides may be safer and produce fewer side effects because they are smaller molecules than most conventional drugs. Some peptide therapies have shown promise for use in certain areas of medicine where other forms of treatments may not be available – for example, small children who cannot be treated with adult growth hormone injections.

Feel free to contact American Medical Wellness if you have any more questions about peptide therapy!