Which of the following structures represents the peptide chain?
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Answer
(3) [figure]
Solution
Proteins are polymers of -amino acids, H2N-CH(R)-COOH, joined by peptide (amide) linkages -CO-NH-.
A peptide chain is the repeating unit -NH-CH(R)-CO-: every N is followed by one -carbon and then a >C=O group bonded to the next N.
Structure (3) is -NH-C-CO-NH-C-CO-NH-C-CO-, exactly this pattern.
(1) has -NH-CO-NH- (urea-type) links, (2) has only one amide link followed by a chain of carbons, and (4) has two carbons between N and C=O (not -amino acid units).
Answer: (3)