Peptide

Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by covalent peptide bonds, typically consisting of 2 to 50 residues (NIH, 2023). They serve as fundamental endogenous signaling molecules, including hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors, which regulate critical physiological processes such as glucose homeostasis, appetite, and immune responses (NCBI, 2022). However, the term "Peptide" refers to a broad chemical class or a therapeutic modality rather than a specific, actionable biological target like a receptor or enzyme (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2021). In pharmacological contexts, a target must be a distinct molecular entity that a drug binds to produce a therapeutic effect; "Peptide" lacks the specificity required to meet this definition. Therapeutic peptides themselves are frequently developed as drugs to modulate specific targets, such as the Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R). Due to its nature as a general descriptor for a category of molecules, "Peptide" is considered an incorrect or overly generic entry for a target database (UniProt, 2024). Challenges associated with peptides in medicine include their susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage and limited membrane permeability (PubMed, 2020).

Other names

PolypeptideOligopeptideAmino acid chain

Not applicable as "Peptide" is a molecular class, not a specific therapeutic target.