Amino acid:A molecule that serves as the building block of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain.
Polypeptide:A polymer formed by linking multiple amino acids together through peptide bonds, eventually folding into functional proteins based on the nature of their amino acid constituents.
Hydrophobic interaction: A type of non-covalent bonding that occurs between molecules or parts of molecules that are repelled by water; often driven by hydrophobic side chains within proteins pushing away from aqueous environments