What type of bond connects amino acids in a protein?

The type of bond that connects amino acids in a protein is known as a peptide bond. A peptide bond forms specifically between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, resulting in the release of a water molecule in a condensation reaction. This covalent bond is crucial for linking multiple amino acids together to form polypeptide chains, which ultimately fold into functional proteins.

Understanding that peptide bonds are a specific type of covalent bond helps clarify why they are essential in protein structure. While hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds can play important roles in stabilizing protein structures through interactions between different parts of the molecule, they do not directly link the amino acids together. Therefore, focusing on the formation of peptide bonds is vital when discussing protein synthesis and structure.