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What Are Peptides
Short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in nearly every biological system.
Peptides are sequences of typically 2–50 amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They sit between free amino acids and full proteins on the molecular size spectrum.
Endogenous peptides function as hormones (insulin, glucagon), neurotransmitters (oxytocin, vasopressin), antimicrobials (defensins), and growth factors. Synthetic analogs are designed to mimic, prolong, or block these native signals.