Plain-English glossary
Amino acid sequence
An amino acid sequence is the ordered list of amino acid residues that make up a peptide or protein, written from the amino (N) terminus to the carboxyl (C) terminus. In research it is recorded with one-letter or three-letter codes, and it determines a molecule's identity, folding, and chemical behavior far more than its overall size.
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Names you may come across
BPC-157
A short synthetic peptide discussed in studies of tissue repair and the gut. Start with the study setting and its limitations.
Semax
A short synthetic peptide discussed in research on brain signalling and responses to stress or injury.
MOTS-c
A small peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA, studied in questions about energy regulation and metabolism.