Transpeptidation is a biochemical process that involves the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced as "træns," which refers to the prefix meaning "across" or "beyond." The second part of the word is pronounced as "pɛptɪˈdeɪʃən," where the emphasis is on the second syllable. The word "peptide" refers to the short chains of amino acids that are formed during this process. Overall, the spelling of "transpeptidation" follows the general principles of English phonetics.
Transpeptidation is a biochemical process that involves the formation of peptide bonds between amino acid residues, typically occurring during protein synthesis. Specifically, it refers to the stage of protein synthesis where individual amino acids connected by peptide bonds join together to form a polypeptide chain. This process is governed by enzymes called transpeptidases.
During transpeptidation, the nascent polypeptide chain elongates as each amino acid is added to the growing chain, forming peptide bonds with adjacent amino acids. The transpeptidation reaction occurs as the nucleophilic amino group of one amino acid attacks the carbonyl group of the other amino acid, resulting in the release of a water molecule and the formation of a peptide bond. This process is crucial for the accurate and sequential assembly of amino acids required to generate functional proteins.
Transpeptidation plays a pivotal role in various biological processes, such as DNA replication, transcription, translation, and enzyme catalysis. Additionally, it is a key target for some antibiotics, such as penicillin, which inhibit bacterial transpeptidases and disrupt cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial cell death.
Overall, transpeptidation is the vital enzymatic process responsible for the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids, enabling protein synthesis and contributing to the functioning and structure of numerous biological molecules.
The word "transpeptidation" is derived from two components: "trans-" and "peptidation".
1. "Trans-" is a Latin prefix meaning "across" or "beyond". It is commonly used in English to indicate a movement or change from one state to another.
2. "Peptide" comes from the Greek word "peptos", which means "digested" or "well-cooked". It refers to a compound consisting of two or more amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
3. The suffix "-ation" comes from Latin and is commonly used in English to form nouns indicating an action, process, or result.
Therefore, "transpeptidation" refers to the process or action of forming a peptide bond across or beyond something.