Description of the peptide

The peptide is a compound of amino acids, at least two, which is classified into large families according to the number of amino acids it contains. There are in fact oligopeptides which consist of a few amino acids (between two and ten), polypeptides which contain more than ten and which are then called "proteins".

Peptides have several major functions. They enter into the composition of certain hormones, which are then called "peptide hormones". These include insulin and endorphins, for example. Present in enzymes, they have antiviral and antibiotic properties. Finally, we also speak of "neuropeptides", when they play a role of neurotransmitters.

Use of peptides

Peptides are used in major industries of our everyday life, that of pharmacology and cosmetics. In medicine, they are present in penicillin and cyclosporine. They serve thus, in the first case, to reduce the development of bacteria, and in the second, to modulate the immune activity, especially after grafting to limit the risk of rejection. In cosmetology, many anti-wrinkle creams contain peptides for their ability to maintain firmness of the skin and to promote collagen production.