Proteins are needed for growth and repair, they are formed from the monomer – amino acids and are broken down by protease.
Amino acids, Dipeptides and Polypeptides
There are around 20 amino acids in the body, and these join together in different combinations to form proteins. This is done through condensation reactions, resulting in a peptide bond and a loss of water.
When two amino acids join together in a condensation reaction, a dipeptide is formed – held together with a peptide bond.
These dipeptides can bond together in condensation reactions to form a polypeptide chain, and water is lost.
Proteins are polypeptides held together by peptide bonds, these are formed during condensation reactions.