Definition

A type of molecule made up of five linked amino acids.

Example

The scientist studied the effects of a specific pentapeptide on cell growth.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a pentapeptide?

Yeah, I read that it's made up of five amino acids.

That's pretty interesting! I didn't know how specific they could get with amino acids.

For sure! It's amazing how much detail there is in protein structures.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pentapeptide → It is formed from "penta-" (from Greek "pente", meaning five) and "peptide" (from Greek "peptos", meaning digested or assimilated). The word "pentapeptide" refers to a peptide that consists of five amino acids linked together.

Memory Tip

Think of 'penta-' meaning five, and 'peptide' relating to amino acids — a pentapeptide is a chain of five amino acids.

Visually Confused Words