What type of bond joins amino acids together in proteins?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and they are linked through a specific type of bond known as peptide bonds. When two amino acids undergo a condensation reaction, the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another, resulting in the release of water (H2O) and the formation of a covalent bond known as a peptide bond.

Peptide bonds are crucial in protein structure because they create a chain of amino acids, forming the primary structure of a protein. This linear sequence of amino acids ultimately folds into complex three-dimensional shapes necessary for the protein's function.

While hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds, and ionic bonds play important roles in the overall structure and stability of proteins, particularly in maintaining secondary and tertiary structures, it’s the peptide bonds that specifically link the amino acids together in the polypeptide chain. Recognizing this distinction is fundamental in understanding protein synthesis and structure.