How are amino acids linked together?

Amino acids are linked together primarily through peptide bonds. A peptide bond forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, resulting in the release of a water molecule—this reaction is known as a dehydration synthesis or condensation reaction. This bond is a covalent chemical bond, meaning that it is strong and holds the amino acids together in a linear chain, which subsequently folds into specific three-dimensional structures to form proteins.

The formation of peptide bonds is crucial to protein synthesis and plays a vital role in determining the structure and function of proteins in biological systems. Overall, understanding peptide bonds is essential for grasping how proteins are built from individual amino acids and how they interact in biological pathways.