Peptide bond
MCAT glossary · Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Definition
Covalent amide bond formed between the α-carboxyl of one amino acid and the α-amino of the next, with elimination of water.
Peptide bond in plain English
A peptide bond is the link that joins two amino acids — the building blocks of proteins — into a chain. One amino acid's acid end connects to the next one's nitrogen end, forming a strong covalent bond (shared electrons that hold atoms tightly together), and in the process a water molecule pops out. Picture snapping two LEGO bricks together where a tiny drop of water squeezes out at the joint; do this hundreds of times and you build a whole protein. That water-releasing join is why it's called a 'condensation' reaction.
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