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Home Q & A Board Biology-Related Homework Help Biochemistry
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connorp connorp
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10 years ago
So what's the difference between oligomers and polymers? I was taught that a polymer was three or more monomers bonded together. But what distinguishes an oligomer from a polymer? Is an oligomer just a specific name for a polymer with a relatively low number of monomers bonded?

Also, when reactions such as dimerization, trimerization, and polymerization occur, are they all the same reactions, just varying in the number of monomers being bonded?

Thanks!
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bio_manbio_man
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10 years ago
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connorp Author
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10 years ago
So is there a relative base number to shoot for when distinguishing for future reference? Like under around 10? 20? 50?
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10 years ago
None that I know of, but if you have two monomers, it's a dimer, three it is a trimer, and four it is tetramer. All three of these examples are oligomers. Generally, polypeptides are never considered oligomers because that short of a protein wouldn't occur in nature; it would be too delicate to exist or have function.
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10 years ago
You learn so much on this forum, interesting read and good question.
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#5
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10 years ago Edited: 10 years ago, padre
check out Neuropeptide Y

it's composed of 36 amino acids.

AND Peptide YY
Mastering in Nutritional Biology
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