What are peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, typically consisting of 2 to 50 units, that are linked together by peptide bonds. They are smaller than proteins and can be thought of as the building blocks of proteins [1]. Peptides are versatile biopolymers that present a wide range of biological functions and can penetrate cell membranes, making them potential therapies for numerous diseases [2].
Peptides can be biologically active, contributing to physiological functions in organisms. They can be used in the food industry as preservatives or antioxidants to prevent food spoilage, and in the pharmaceutical industry, they can serve as antioxidants, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, and immunomodulatory compounds, among other functions [3].
Peptides are also involved in regulating gene expression and protein synthesis in various organisms, including humans. They can penetrate into the nuclei of cells and interact with the nucleosome, the histone proteins (impacting how easily the DNA can be used to make proteins), and DNA [4].
In the context of drug delivery, peptides can overcome physiological and transport barriers presented by diseases, making them attractive in drug delivery and materials engineering for applications including therapeutics, molecular building blocks, and cell-targeting ligands [5].
Are peptides illegal?
Peptides themselves are not illegal. They are naturally occurring or synthetically produced substances that have a wide range of applications, including therapeutic uses.
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