Amino acids are linked together through a process known as protein synthesis, specifically during a phase called translation. In this process, the sequence of nucleotides in messenger RNA (mRNA) dictates the order in which amino acids are assembled to form a polypeptide chain.
The primary type of bond that forms between amino acids in a polypeptide chain is called a peptide bond. This bond is formed during a dehydration synthesis reaction, where the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another, releasing a molecule of water in the process. This reaction leads to the formation of a covalent bond between the two amino acids.
Once peptide bonds form, they create a long chain of amino acids known as a polypeptide. These chains can fold into specific three-dimensional structures that determine the function of the resulting protein. In summary, the linking of amino acids involves the formation of peptide bonds through dehydration synthesis during protein synthesis.