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Peptide Signaling Compounds

Meaning

Peptide signaling compounds are short chains of amino acids that function as critical intercellular messengers, acting as hormones, neurotransmitters, or growth factors to regulate a vast array of physiological processes throughout the body. Unlike steroid hormones, these compounds bind to specific receptors on the cell surface to initiate intracellular signaling cascades, modulating functions like appetite, sleep cycles, inflammation, and tissue repair. They represent a fundamental class of communication molecules within the endocrine and nervous systems.