Dipeptides
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Related to dipeptide: Muramyl dipeptide
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Dipeptides
organic substances consisting of two amino acids connected by a peptide bond (—CO—NH—). Optically active, they form crystals of characteristic shape. The isoelectric point, color reactions, and other properties of dipeptides are determined by the amino acids that enter into their composition. Dipeptides are compounds intermediate between polypeptides and amino acids and are formed by the hydrolysis of proteins. Dipeptides consisting of the same L-amino acids but in different order yield isomers, for example, leucyl-alanine and alanyl-leucine. Natural dipeptides, such as carnosine and anserine, are found in animal tissues. A dipeptide molecule can be hydrolyzed by acids, alkalies, or enzymes (dipeptidases) to yield two amino acids.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.