1. The hydroxyl group (OH) from the carboxyl group (COOH) of one amino acid and a hydrogen atom (H) from the amino group (NH2) of another amino acid are removed. This forms a molecule of water (H2O).
2. The remaining carbon atom of the carboxyl group and the nitrogen atom of the amino group form a covalent bond. This bond is called a peptide bond.
3. The resulting molecule is a dipeptide, consisting of two amino acids linked by a peptide bond.
This process can continue, adding more amino acids to the chain, forming a polypeptide.
Key points:
* Dehydration synthesis is a process where water is removed to form a bond.
* Peptide bond is a strong covalent bond formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.
* Polypeptide is a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
* The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide determines the protein's structure and function.
Think of it like building a chain: Each amino acid is a link, and the peptide bond is the connector that holds the links together. The final chain, the polypeptide, represents the protein.
