2022

Digestion, Absorption and

Degradation of Proteins
By
By
Dr.
Dr.Atheer
AtheerAlghanimi,
Alghanimi,Ph.D.
Ph.D.ininChemistry
Chemistry

E-mail address : atheer.aoda@uokerbala.edu.iq 1

 Objectives
1. To describe the endogenous and exogenous sources of
Proteins and protein body storage.
2. To understand and clarify the digestion and absorption
of proteins.
3. To explain the pathways of protein digestion from
mouth till absorption by small intestine.
4. To display some disorders and abnormalities related to
protein digestion and absorption.
2
 Lecture Outline
1. Introduction.
2. Protein digestion.
3. Diagram of proteins digestion .
A. Digestion by gastric secretion.
B. Digestion by pancreatic enzymes.
C. Intestinal digestion of proteins.
4. Absorption of amino acids and small peptides.
5. Overview of protein digestion.
6. Abnormalities of protein digestion.
7. References.
3
 1. Introduction
 The proteins subjected to digestion and absorption are
obtained from two sources: I. Exogenous II. Endogenous.
 The intake of dietary protein about 50-100 g/day.
 Dietary proteins are denatured on cooking & easily
digested.
 About 30-100 g/day of endogenous protein is derived
form the digestive enzymes.
 The digestion and absorption of proteins is very efficient in
healthy humans, hence very little protein (about 5-10
g/day) is lost through feces..
 Proteins are too large to be absorbed by intestine and
must be hydrolyzed to yield amino acids, which can be
absorbed. 4
 2. Protein Digestion
Proteolytic enzymes are responsible for proteins
degradation which are produce by three different
organs: Stomach, Pancreas and Small intestine.
Proteolytic enzymes are secreted as inactive zymogens
and converted to active form in the intestine.
 Proteolytic enzymes are include:
 Endopeptidases
 Exopeptidases
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3. Diagram of Proteins digestion

6
A. Digestion by gastric
secretion.
B. Digestion by pancreatic
enzymes.
C. Digestion by small
intestine enzymes.

Digestion of dietary proteins by

the proteolytic enzymes of the
gastrointestinal tract. 7
Endopeptidases:

 Act on peptide bonds inside the protein molecule, the

protein becomes successively smaller & smaller units.
E.g.. Trypsin, Chymotrypsin, and Elastase.

Exopeptidases:

 Act at the peptide bond, at the end region of the

chain.
E.g. Carboxypeptidase acts on the peptide bond only
at the carboxy terminal end.
Aminopeptidase, which acts on the peptide bond only
at amino terminal end.
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 3. A. Digestion by gastric secretion
The digestion of proteins begins in the stomach by
secreting gastric juice from gastric gland :
1. Hydrochloric acid
HCL causes denaturation of proteins and making them
more easy to hydrolysis.
2. Pepsin
Secreted by the chief cells of the stomach as an inactive
zymogen (or proenzyme).
Pepsinogen is activated to pepsin leads to releases
peptides and a few free amino acids from dietary
proteins.

9
 3. B. Digestion by pancreatic enzymes
 A large polypeptides produced in the stomach entering
the small intestine and further cleaved to oligopeptides
and amino acids by a group of pancreatic proteases that
include:
 Endopeptidases: Trypsin, Chymotrypsin, Elastase.
 Exopeptidases :Carboxypeptidase.

10
 3. C. Intestinal Digestion of Proteins

 The luminal surface of intestinal epithelial cells

secrete:
 Aminopeptidase is a non-specific exopeptidase,
cleaves N-terminal amino acids one by one to produce
free amino acids & smaller peptides.
 Dipeptidases act on different dipeptides to liberate
amino acids.
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12
 4. Absorption of amino acids and
small peptides
 The absorption of amino acids occurs mainly in the
small intestine.
 It is an energy requiring process.
 Transport systems are carrier mediated and/or ATP-
Na+ dependent systems.
 These amino acids are either metabolized by the liver
or released into the general circulation.
5 different carriers for amino acids:
 Neutral amino acids (Ala, Val, Leu, Met,
Phe, Tyr, Ile).
 Basic amino acids (Lys, Arg) and Cys).
 Imino acids and Glycine.
 Acidic amino acids (Asp, Glu).
 Beta amino acids ( beta Ala). 13
5. Overview of Protein digestion

14
 6. Abnormalities of protein digestion
 Defect in the pancreatic secretion impairs protein & fat
digestion - Loss of undigested protein in the feces along
with the abnormal appearance of lipids.
 Acute pancreatitis: Premature activation of trypsinogen
inside the pancreas itself will result in the auto
digestion of pancreatic cells.
 Allergy to certain food proteins (milk, fish) result from
absorption of partially digested proteins.
 Partial gastrectomy, pancreatitis, carcinoma of
pancrease & cystic fibrosis may affect the digestion and
absorption of protein.
 Protein losing enteropathy: Excessive loss of proteins.
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7.7.The
TheReference
Reference