BIOCHEMISTRY - Textbook - Ostapchenko L. I. - 2012

Chapter 6. AMINO ACID METABOLISM AND FUNCTIONS. PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS

6.3. Protein Digestion

Food products contain very small amounts of free Amino Acids. The vast majority of Amino acids are incorporated into Proteins, which undergo Hydrolysis in the gastrointestinal tract under the action of protease Enzymes (peptidases). The substrate Specificity of these enzymes lies in the fact that each of them most rapidly cleaves peptide bonds formed by specific amino acids. Proteases that hydrolyze peptide bonds within the protein molecule belong to the Endopeptidases. Enzymes belonging to the exopeptidases hydrolyze peptide bonds formed by terminal amino acids. Through the action of all gastrointestinal proteases, dietary proteins are broken down into individual amino acids, which are subsequently absorbed into tissue Cells.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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