Peptide glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms you will meet across our catalogue and Certificates of Analysis - from HPLC and lyophilisation to reconstitution and research-use terminology.

Agonist: Agonists are defined as substances that are effective in activating the receptor, which causes change in the biological reactions. These receptors are cellular proteins, which change the current behavior of the cell when they are activated.
Amino Acids: Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and the body contains 1000 distinct proteins, each of them having a unique sequence and function. The sequence causes the protein to change shape and perform diverse activities in your body.
Binding Affinity: The degree to which the ligand binds with the biological target indicates how strongly the molecules interact and stay together under certain conditions.
Bioactive Peptides: Bioactive peptides are short amino acid chains that have particular biological actions in living organisms. These peptides interact with biological targets such as receptors, enzymes, and signaling molecules, affecting a variety of physiological processes.
Bioavailability: It is defined as the rate and amount at which a chemical reaches the systemic circulation and is able to exert its biological impact.
Catalyst: It is defined as the substance that increases the rate of reaction without being consumed.
Cell Membrane: It is a thin layer that surrounds living cells and separates them from their surroundings. It protects certain parts of the cell, which include small, large, water-soluble and highly charged molecules (for example, proteins, carbohydrates, etc., which are involved in cellular metabolism).
Cellular and Molecular Terms: Cellular and molecular terms are used to describe the structure, function, and interactions of cells and molecules in biological systems. These phrases are widely used in domains such as cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and biomedical research to describe how biological processes occur at the…
Cytokines: They are the proteins that work as chemical messengers in the immune system. The immune system is a network of different components which work together to protect the body from the entry of microorganisms, allergies and other dangerous substances.
Denaturation: It is a biological process that involves altering the molecular structure of a protein or nucleic acid. This is a process of breaking many weak connections, or noncovalent bonds, found within a protein or nucleic acid molecule.
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER): ER is a continuous membrane system that creates a series of flattened sacs within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells and supports a variety of tasks, most notably protein production, folding, modification, and transport.
Enzyme: They are proteins that speed up metabolism, or chemical reactions in the body.
GHRP (Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptides): They are synthetic peptides that stimulate the pituitary gland's production of growth hormone (GH) by activating certain receptors involved in hormonal control. These peptides interact with the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), which is involved in signaling pathways that regulate growth hormone secretion.
Golgi Apparatus: It is a membrane-bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells. It is made up of a series of flattened or stacked pouches known as cisternae. They are helpful in the transportation of molecules and package proteins and lipids to their intended destinations. It is found in…
Ligand: They are the chemical substances that help in the binding of specific target molecules, which are usually receptors, proteins, and enzymes, to form a stable molecular complex. This connection has the potential to activate, inhibit, or regulate biological processes within a cell or organism.
Mitochondria: They are double-membrane-bound organelles, which are also known as "powerhouse of the cell", found in the cytoplasm of most eukaryotic cells. They are necessary for creating the bulk of the cell's adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through aerobic respiration, serving as the predominant energy source for cellular…
Mitochondrial Peptides (MDPs): They are tiny bioactive peptides encoded by short open reading frames in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). These peptides are synthesized inside mitochondria and have a role in regulating cellular metabolism, stress responses, and intracellular signaling pathways.
Neuropeptides: They are peptides released by neurons that function as signalling molecules for nearby cells. They differ from peptide hormones, which are released by endocrine cells and travel to several tissues, including the central nervous system, to elicit a reaction.
Nucleus: It is a membrane-bound organelle present in eukaryotic cells that stores the genetic material (DNA) and serves as the control center for cellular processes. It controls activities like gene expression, DNA replication, and cell division.
Oligopeptide: An oligopeptide is a polypeptide made up of 2 to 20 amino acids, which include dipeptides, tripeptides, tetrapeptides, and other polypeptides.
Peptide Bond: A peptide bond is a covalent chemical connection that connects two amino acids to make peptides or proteins. Condensation or dehydration synthesis occurs when one amino acid's carboxyl group (-COOH) establishes a bond with another's amino group (-NH2), releasing a water molecule.
Peptide Hormones: They are hormones made up of peptide molecules. These hormones have an effect on the endocrine systems of animals, including people. Most hormones are either steroid hormones or hormones that are made up of amino acids (amines, peptides, or proteins).
Peptidomimetics: They are synthetic or chemically modified compounds that replicate the structure and biological function of natural peptides while increasing stability, selectivity, or pharmacological qualities. These molecules are designed to mimic the key functional properties of peptides, allowing them to interact with biological targets such as…
Polypeptide: They are lengthy chains of amino acids that are linked to each other by peptide bonds that serve as the fundamental structural component of proteins. During protein synthesis in cells, these chains are made. They can fold into certain three-dimensional configurations that control how they…
Receptor: A receptor is a molecule, typically a protein, that receives signals from a cell. Small molecules, such as hormones outside the cell and second messengers within the cell, bind strongly and specifically to their receptors. Binding is an important factor in determining a cellular response…
Ribosome: They are particles found in great quantities in all live cells that serve as the location of protein production. Ribosomes can be found as loose particles in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as connected to endoplasmic reticulum membranes in eukaryotic cells.
Signal Peptide: It is a short sequence of amino acids found at the start (N-terminus) of a freshly made protein that guides it to a specific site within or outside the cell. It serves as a molecular targeting signal, directing proteins to certain cellular compartments, such as…
Somatostatin: They are the hormones which are helpful in regulating different biological activities by blocking the release of other hormones, gastrointestinal tract activity, and cell proliferation. They are secreting chemical substances that help to regulate varies activities in the body by transporting information to different body…
Synthetic Peptides: They are short chains of amino acids that are created using synthetic chemicals in the laboratory rather than being derived from natural biological processes. These peptides are intended to mimic or alter naturally occurring peptide sequences for use in scientific research, biochemical studies, and laboratory…