zwitterion
A molecule that has >1 localized charges which may be of opposite polarity. That is to say, it may be a positive ion on one side, and a negative ion on the other.
Most free amino acids form zwitterions, and in this way the negative and positive ends join together to form a chain. When these chains reach a length of thousands of links they become proteins.
zwitterion by devmodesquad January 15, 2008
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