How are amino acids, polypeptides, and proteins related?

Question

Elias Aboujaoude · Accepted Answer

Amino acids are all the building blocks of protein. Chain of amino acids form polypeptide. One or more polypeptide (sometimes along with non protein part) together may acquire a functional form and 3D structure to become protein.

A protein is a macromolecule composed of amino acid monomers.

Amino acids contains a central carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group and a variable R group.

Note that the R group are also known as side chains. As all amino acids have the same underlying structure, the distinctive shape and properties of an amino acid (and thus the proteins formed) are determined by the R group.

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William Albracht · Answer

undefined Proteins are large, complex molecules composed of one or more polypeptide chains folded into specific three-dimensional structures. Hence, amino acids are the basic units that compose polypeptides, and polypeptides are the basic units that compose proteins. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. When amino acids bond together through peptide bonds, they form polypeptides.