Chemicals and Drugs

Peptides

Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Peptide
  • Polypeptide
  • Polypeptides

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

28 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

general or unspecified; prefer specifics; fewer than 13 amino acids = oligopeptides; "primary structure" = PROTEIN STRUCTURE, PRIMARY see AMINO ACID SEQUENCE; peptide structure other than primary: coordinate with PROTEIN CONFORMATION or its specifics

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D12.644w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QU 68

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Peptides. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D010455. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D010455
  2. Peptides. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peptide
  3. Peptides. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172847