a mind adrift
By Gillian Gaynor
finding meaning in peptides
deciphering life
Peptides are composed of chains of amino acids—organic molecules, encoded by a triplet combination of nucleotides in a strand of DNA or RNA (codon), that contain a carboxyl group, amino group and characteristic side chain.
A protein’s primary structure is determined by the specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain while the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures are held together by intra- and intermolecular interactions and refer to the spatial arrangement and 3D conformation of the chain(s). The hierarchical nature of polypeptide formation and folding is crucial to its function as it allows proteins to perform specific roles in an organism.
Proteins are essential to nearly every biochemical process, serving as enzymes to catalyze reactions, hormones and neurotransmitters to regulate physiological responses, and structural units that contribute to the integrity of cells, tissues and bones, among many other examples.
Further reading:
‘Biochemistry, Peptide’, 2023, Forbes, J. & Krishnamurthy, K., StarPearls Publishing, available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562260/
Author bio:
Gillian Gaynor, a novice poet from Pittsburgh, received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Notre Dame. Currently applying to medical school, Gillian bridges her scientific roots and budding poetic interests by crafting “polypeptide poems”—abstract haikus that challenge the reader to decode the hidden meaning in chains of amino acids.
You can connect with Gillian on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilliangaynor/