Glycylglycine
Encyclopedia
Glycylglycine is the dipeptide
of glycine
, making it the simplest peptide
.
The compound was first synthesized by Emil Fischer
and Ernest Fourneau
in 1901 by boiling 2,5-diketopiperazine
(glycine anhydride) with hydrochloric acid.
Shaking with alkali and other synthesis methods have been reported.
Because of its low toxicity, it is useful as a buffer for biological systems with effective ranges between pH
2.5-3.8 and 7.5-8.9, however, it is only moderately stable for storage once dissolved. It is used in the synthesis of more complex peptides.
Dipeptide
A dipeptide is a molecule consisting of two amino acids joined by a single peptide bond.Dipeptides are produced from polypeptides by the action of the hydrolase enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase. Dietary proteins are digested to dipeptides and amino acids, and the dipeptides are absorbed more rapidly...
of glycine
Glycine
Glycine is an organic compound with the formula NH2CH2COOH. Having a hydrogen substituent as its 'side chain', glycine is the smallest of the 20 amino acids commonly found in proteins. Its codons are GGU, GGC, GGA, GGG cf. the genetic code.Glycine is a colourless, sweet-tasting crystalline solid...
, making it the simplest peptide
Peptide
Peptides are short polymers of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds. They are distinguished from proteins on the basis of size, typically containing less than 50 monomer units. The shortest peptides are dipeptides, consisting of two amino acids joined by a single peptide bond...
.
The compound was first synthesized by Emil Fischer
Hermann Emil Fischer
Hermann Emil Fischer, Emil Fischer was a German chemist and 1902 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered the Fischer esterification. He developed the Fischer projection, a symbolic way of drawing asymmetric carbon atoms.-Early years:Fischer was born in Euskirchen, near Cologne,...
and Ernest Fourneau
Ernest Fourneau
Ernest Fourneau was a French medicinal chemist, who played a major role in the discovery of synthetic local anesthetics, as well as in the synthesis of suramin...
in 1901 by boiling 2,5-diketopiperazine
Diketopiperazine
Diketopiperazines are a class of cyclic organic compounds that result from peptide bonds between two amino acids to form a lactam. They are the smallest possible cyclic peptides....
(glycine anhydride) with hydrochloric acid.
Shaking with alkali and other synthesis methods have been reported.
Because of its low toxicity, it is useful as a buffer for biological systems with effective ranges between pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
2.5-3.8 and 7.5-8.9, however, it is only moderately stable for storage once dissolved. It is used in the synthesis of more complex peptides.