Dipeptidases are

enzyme An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...

s secreted by

enterocyte Enterocytes, or intestinal absorptive cells, are simple columnar epithelial cells which line the inner surface of the small and large intestines. A glycocalyx surface coat contains digestive enzymes. Microvilli on the apical surface increase ...

s into the

small intestine The small intestine or small bowel is an organ (anatomy), organ in the human gastrointestinal tract, gastrointestinal tract where most of the #Absorption, absorption of nutrients from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intes ...

. Dipeptidases hydrolyze bound pairs of

amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although over 500 amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the 22 α-amino acids incorporated into proteins. Only these 22 a ...

s, called dipeptides. Dipeptidases are secreted onto the brush border of the villi in the small intestine, where they cleave dipeptides into their two component amino acids prior to absorption. They are also found within the enterocytes themselves, performing cytosolic digestion of absorbed dipeptides. Dipeptidases are exopeptidases, classified under EC number 3.4.13.

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* Enzymes EC 3.4.13 {{enzyme-stub

See also

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