What are dipeptides?

Dipeptides are specifically defined as molecules that are formed through the condensation reaction between two amino acids. This process, known as dehydration synthesis, involves the removal of a water molecule when the amino group of one amino acid bonds with the carboxyl group of another. The result is a dipeptide, which consists of two linked amino acids.

Understanding dipeptides is essential when studying protein structure since they can serve as building blocks for larger peptides and proteins. Unlike single amino acids, which are basic units and cannot be further divided into smaller peptides, dipeptides represent a more complex molecular structure. They are also distinct from long chains of proteins, which consist of many amino acids linked together, and from mixtures of multiple peptides, which would involve varying numbers of amino acids and peptide bonds. As such, the definition of dipeptides is both precise and foundational in the study of biochemistry and molecular biology.