There are eight amino acids in vasopressin. How many peptide bonds are in this small protein?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a peptide bond is formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid.
2. Recognize that in a linear chain of amino acids, each pair of consecutive amino acids is connected by a peptide bond.
3. Note that the number of peptide bonds in a peptide or protein is always one less than the number of amino acids, because the first amino acid in the chain does not have a preceding amino acid to form a bond with.
4. Apply this concept to the given problem: since vasopressin has eight amino acids, calculate the number of peptide bonds by subtracting one from the total number of amino acids.
5. Conclude that the number of peptide bonds in vasopressin is the total number of amino acids minus one.

Key Concepts

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain. In the context of vasopressin, which has eight amino acids, each amino acid contributes to the overall structure and function of the protein.

Peptide Bonds

Peptide bonds are covalent bonds that link amino acids together in a protein. Formed through a dehydration reaction between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, each peptide bond reduces the total number of amino acids by one, resulting in a chain of amino acids that constitutes the protein.

Protein Structure

The structure of a protein is determined by the sequence of amino acids and the interactions between them. In the case of vasopressin, understanding its structure is essential for grasping how many peptide bonds are present, as the number of peptide bonds is always one less than the number of amino acids in the chain.