Glycylglycine is as a buffering reagent and also used in biochemical research. It is the simplest of all dipeptides and is used as a starting template for preparation of more complex peptides. It is also employed as a practical buffer with a buffering range of 7.5 - 8.9 (at 25°C). Valuable agent for experiments investigating peptide transport and absorption.
ChEBI: A dipeptide formed from glycine residues.
Glycine is a non-essential amino acid. Influx of calcium through the cell membrane is mediated by glycine-gated channel. Glycine participates in the synthesis of porphyrins, purine and serine. It also serves as a competitive agonist for glutamate in binding to the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors. Glycine synthesis might be increased in rapidly proliferating cancer cells, due to increased demand for the amino acid. Diglycine is known to catalyze the formation of homo- and hetero dipeptides more efficiently than glycine.
Crystallise glycylglycine from aqueous 50% EtOH or water at 50-60o by addition of EtOH. Dry it at 110o. It sublimes at 190-200o/0.3mm with 30% recovery [Gross & Gradsky J Am Chem Soc 77 1678 1955, King J Am Chem Soc 79 6153 1957]. [Beilstein 4 IV 2459.]
