protein digestion - the basics

Question 1

how does protein digestion work:

Answer 1

• endopeptidases hydrolyse the peptide bonds between the amino acids in the centre of the polypeptide
• this increases the surface area by making more ends for the exopeptidases
• exopeptidases hydrolyse the peptide bonds between the terminal amino acids which essentially removes them
• this creates dipeptides and single amino acids
• membrane bound dipeptidases hydrolyse the peptide bonds between the amino acids in the dipeptides

Question 2

definitions
what is digestion?
what is absorption? links with digestion
what is assimilation

Answer 2

• large INSOLUBLE molecules are hydrolysed into smaller soluble molecules to be absorbed in the cell membranes
• small soluble molecules crossing the epithelial cells lining the ileum to be absorbed into the blood
• monomers being built into polymers