A peptide bond is a type of chemical bond that links two amino acids together, forming a peptide or protein. This bond occurs when the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another, releasing a molecule of water in a process called dehydration synthesis. Peptide bonds are essential for building proteins, which are crucial for various biological functions. In proteins, peptide bonds create a chain of amino acids, known as a polypeptide. The sequence and arrangement of these amino acids determine the protein's structure and function. Understanding peptide bonds is fundamental in fields like biochemistry and molecular biology, as they play a key role in the formation of all living organisms.