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Peptide Bond

A peptide bond is a form of chemical bond that is formed between two molecules when the carboxyl group of a molecule reacts with the amino group of the other molecule. This reaction releases a molecule of water. The peptide bond is considered as a dehydration synthesis reaction or a condensation reaction and often happens between amino acids.
The CO-NH bond that happens in this reaction is the peptide bond and the molecule that happens is called an amide. On the other hand, the four atom functional group -C(=O)NH- is referred to as an amide group. If the process happens within the context of proteins then it is referred to as the peptide group. Polypeptides and proteins are amino acid chains that are bound through the peptide bonds.

A peptide bond can actually be broken through the process of amide hydrolysis, which is the addition of water. The peptide bonds that are formed within proteins have a tendency to break spontaneously when subjected to the presence of water (the bonds are called metastable in this case). The subsequent breakdown actually releases energy measured in 1kj/mol. This process, however, is very slow. Living things also use enzymes to make peptide bonds and this process requires free energy.

Web Resources On Peptide Bond

The Peptide Bond
Peptide bond and peptides

Book Resources On Peptide Bond

Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology, Part A, Major Methods of Peptide Bond Formation by Erhard Gross and Johannes Meienhofer
Enzymes: Peptide Bond Hydrolysis by Paul D. Boyer

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