Dipeptide

A dipeptide is an organic compound derived from two amino acids. The constituent amino acids can be the same or different. When different, two isomers of the dipeptide are possible, depending on the sequence. Several dipeptides are physiologically important, and some are both physiologically and commercially significant. A well known dipeptide is aspartame, an artificial sweetener.[1]

Glycylglycine is the simplest dipeptide.

Dipeptides are white solids. Many are far more water-soluble than the parent amino acids.[1] For example, the dipeptide Ala-Gln has the solubility of 586 g/L more than 10x the solubility of Gln (35 g/L). Dipeptides also can exhibit different stabilities, e.g. with respect to hydrolysis. Gln does not withstand sterilization procedures, whereas this dipeptide does. Because dipeptides are prone to hydrolysis, the high solubility is exploited in infusions, i.e. to provide nutrition.[2]

  1. ^ a b Yagasaki M, Hashimoto S (November 2008). "Synthesis and application of dipeptides; current status and perspectives". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 81 (1): 13–22. doi:10.1007/s00253-008-1590-3. PMID 18795289.
  2. ^ Fürst P, Pogan K, Stehle P (1997). "Glutamine dipeptides in clinical nutrition". Nutrition. 13 (7–8): 731–7. doi:10.1016/S0899-9007(97)83035-3. PMID 9263278.