Would it be possible to make polymers out of amino acids? Why or why not?
Polypeptides are very important biological compounds, also know as proteins. How are polypeptides similar in structure to polyamides or polyesters?
Yes, it is possible to make polymers out of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and proteins are essentially long chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. When these chains of amino acids become long and complex, they are called polypeptides.
Polymers, on the other hand, are large molecules made up of repeating subunits called monomers. In the case of polyamides and polyesters, the monomers are different types of chemical compounds.
Despite the difference in monomers, polypeptides, polyamides, and polyesters share some structural similarities. They all have long chains of repeating units, and these chains can be linear or have branching or cross-linking. Additionally, polypeptides, polyamides, and polyesters all have the potential for hydrogen bonding between the polymer chains, which contributes to their stability and physical properties.
In summary, while polypeptides are naturally occurring polymers made of amino acids, polyamides and polyesters are synthetic polymers made of different monomers. However, they share similar structural characteristics, such as long chain formations and the potential for hydrogen bonding.