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Primary Structure of a Protein
First, a long amino acid chain is formed by connecting amino acids one at a time with
peptide bonds. Remember earlier when we said that amino acids are joined together via
chemical reactions to form proteins? This chemical reaction, which creates the peptide
bonds, is called the peptidyl transfer.
This reaction occurs inside ribosomes, which are protein synthesis apparatuses con-
tained in the cytoplasm and attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. We'll talk more
about ribosomes in Chapter 5.
The long amino acid chain connected together by peptide bonds is called a polypeptide
chain. This amino acid string is called the primary structure of the protein.
Amino Acid Polypeptide chain
in on the process
in which amino acids are
connected by peptide bonds!
Synthesized amino
acid chain
peptide
bond
Primary Structure
158 Chapter 4
