What type of bond links two amino acids together?

A peptide bond is the specific type of bond that links two amino acids together. This bond forms during a dehydration synthesis reaction, where the carboxyl group (-COOH) of one amino acid reacts with the amino group (-NH2) of another, releasing a molecule of water. The resulting bond is a covalent bond, specifically between the carbon of the carboxyl group and the nitrogen of the amino group, which forms a dipeptide.

In the context of protein synthesis, the formation of peptide bonds is crucial because it links together the building blocks (amino acids) to create polypeptides and ultimately proteins, which perform a wide array of functions in the body, including enzyme activity, structural roles, and immune response.

Other types of bonds mentioned are not involved in linking amino acids together. Glycosidic bonds are used to link sugars, ester bonds are involved in linking fatty acids to glycerol in lipids, and hydrogen bonds play a significant role in stabilizing secondary and tertiary structures of proteins but do not link amino acids directly.