What Are The Differences Between Long and Short Peptide Chains?

Peptides are basically small proteins. They’re compounds made up of two or more amino acids in which the amino group of one amino acid is united with the carboxyl group of another amino acid. A protein is made up of polypeptides – a long, unbranched chain of amino acids that are joined together by peptide bonds. Peptides mimic protein functionality in the body which makes them useful for enhancing or repairing biological functions of tissues.
Peptide chains can either be long peptide chains or short peptide chains. Long peptide chains are also referred to as polypeptides and short peptide chains may be called ogliopeptides. Short and long peptide chains are similar in that they both secrete hormones, but they have several differences in their functionalities as well. This article will examine the difference between long and short peptide chains.

What Are Short Chain Peptides?

Short chain peptides do not contain any proteins. They consist of amino acids bonded together in chains smaller than polypeptides. A short chain consists of two or more amino acids linked together, but there is no set rule for a maximum number of amino acids that can be linked together before it is no longer considered a short chain peptide. Short chain peptides are more stable than long chain peptides. They are replicated more efficiently and unlike long chain peptides, short chain peptides do not collapse during absorption, so they offer more accurate and consistent results when studied for various research purposes
Short chain peptides are involved in research for the process of tissue engineering. It is thought that short chain peptides can replicate information they find within tissue and can reproduce it on its own. Short chain peptides are involved in the research of biocompatible materials that could be used to fight the natural degradation that occurs due to the aging process. Perhaps short chain peptides can be used in the future for healing ailments due to the natural course of aging or diseases.

What Are Long Chain Peptides?

A group of between 10 and 100 amino acids chemically linked together is called a long chain peptide, or a protein. Long chain peptides can have molecular weight up to 10,000 grams each, and are able to fold into three-dimensional shapes. Long chain peptides (proteins) perform a variety of basic biological processes in the body, including:
DNA replication – a living organism will inherit DNA through a replication process that creates two identical copies from one molecule of DNA.
Cell signaling – a system of communication in the body that regulates and controls cellular activities and coordinates the action of cells.
Enzyme catalysis – a process by which the speed of chemical reaction of specialized proteins is controlled to maintain biological efficiency.
Long chain peptides are more instable compared to short chain peptides. The long chain peptide can breakdown as a result of the processes that the physical structure undergoes, including when water is added to the chemical bonds and division takes place through the process of hydrolysis, among others.