In polymer science, the backbone chain or main chain of a polymer is the series of covalently bonded atoms that together create the continuous chain of the molecule.
In polypeptides, the backbone consists of carbon and nitrogen atoms of the constituent amino acids. The backbone does not include the side chains.
Famous quotes containing the word chain:
“Man ... cannot learn to forget, but hangs on the past: however far or fast he runs, that chain runs with him.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)