What is the Difference Between Peptides and Peptones

Peptides and peptones are biomolecules made up of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are organic compounds that contain amino and carboxylic functional groups. Proteins are formed by the long chains of amino acids.

The key difference between peptides and peptones is their nature. Peptides are short chains of amino acids joined by peptide bonds, while peptones are protein hydrolysates.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Peptides  
3. What are Peptones
4. Similarities – Peptides and Peptones
5. Peptides vs Peptones in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Peptides and Peptones
7. FAQ: Peptides and Peptones

What are Peptides?

Peptides are short proteins that are about 2-100 amino acids long. For example, insulin is a 51 amino acids long peptide hormone. It helps the cells take in glucose from the food to use for metabolism and store them in the liver. Insulin is also the first peptide researchers in a laboratory (in 1921). This synthetic insulin was used to treat type 1 diabetes in 1923.

There are numerous peptides used for different diseases. Some examples include peptides for anti-aging (collagen), peptides for skin (antimicrobial peptides), peptides for muscle growth and weight loss (growth hormone secretagogues (GHS), peptides for hair growth (GHK-Cu), peptides for bone loss (collagen peptide supplements) and peptides for testosterone (kisspeptin-10 and gonadorelin).

What are Peptones?

Peptones are protein hydrolysates formed by enzymatic or acidic digestion. They are formed from different raw materials and many complex media. They are widely used as a protein source in culture media. Peptones are rich in water soluble minerals and micronutrients derived from the original protein source.

Peptones provide nutritional support for cell growth and proliferation, microbial fermentation, and production of recombinant proteins. Some examples of peptones are meat peptones (cultivation of fastidious and non-fastidious microorganisms), soytone (used in the cultivation of a wide variety of microorganisms), animal-free soytone, tryptone (used in media for the production of antibiotics, toxins, enzymes, and other biological products through fermentation), casamino acid (used in cell culture media that provides a rich source of essential nutrients to help the growth of diverse microorganisms and support protein synthesis).

Similarities Between Peptides and Peptones

1. Both peptides and peptones are biomolecules made up of amino acids.
2. Both have peptide bonds.
3. Peptones have peptide fractions.
4. Both have very important applications in the industry.

Difference Between Peptides and Peptones

Definition

1. Peptides are short chains of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
2. Peptones are protein hydrolysates.

Molecular Weight

1. Peptides have a molecular weight of 200 to 5,000 Da.
2. Peptones have a molecular weight of approximately 28,000 Da.

Uses

1. Peptides are used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, anti-aging, skincare, muscle growth, and weight loss, to prevent hair loss, to prevent bone loss, and to increase testosterone level.
2. Peptones provide nutritional support for cell growth and proliferation, microbial fermentation, and production of recombinant proteins.

Examples

1. Synthetic insulin, collagen supplements, growth hormone secretagogues (GHS), GHK-Cu and kisspeptin-10, and gonadorelin are examples of peptides.
2. Meat peptone, soytone, animal free soytone, and casamino acids are examples of peptones.

The following table summarizes the difference between peptides and peptones.

Summary – Peptides vs Peptones

Amino acids are molecules that join to form proteins. Both peptides and peptones are biomolecules made up of amino acids. Peptides are short chains of amino acids which are 2-100 amino acids long while peptones are hydrolytic products of proteins formed by enzymatic or acidic digestion. This is the summary of the difference between peptides and peptones.

FAQ: Peptides and Peptones

1. What is the function of a peptide?

• Peptides have several important functions: they are precursors of proteins and constituents of alkaloids, act as hormones and growth factors, and act as antioxidants, scavenging free radicals.

2. Are peptides steroids?

• Peptides are short proteins. They are about 2-100 amino acids long. Some examples are insulin and collagen supplements. Although peptides and steroids are both similar, they are polar opposites.

3. What are examples of peptides?

• Examples of peptides include the hormones oxytocin, glutathione, melittin (honeybee venom), pancreatic hormone insulin and glucagon, collagen supplements, growth hormone secretagogues (GHS), and peptides for testosterone such as kisspeptin-10 and gonadorelin.

4. Is peptone a vitamin?

• Peptones are water soluble protein hydrolysates. They are formed by enzymatic or acidic digestion. They contain peptides, amino acids, and inorganic salts as well as other compounds like lipids, vitamins, and sugars.

5. Where is peptone found?

• Peptone is primarily obtained from bovine or porcine origin. They can be made from raw materials such as meat, internal organs, gelatin, and milk, as well as from plants and yeasts.

Reference:

1. “Peptides: What Are They, Uses, and Side Effects.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. “Peptones for PTC and Seed Labs.” Lab Associates.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Classification Of Peptidomimetics” By Prof. Dr. Tom N. Grossmann – (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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