Proteoses

Proteoses are intermediate products of protein digestion. They are formed when proteins are broken down by enzymes like pepsin in the stomach or trypsin in the small intestine. Proteoses are smaller than intact proteins but larger than peptides. They are soluble in water and are often described as complex mixtures of polypeptides. Further enzymatic action, primarily by peptidases in the small intestine, breaks down proteoses into smaller peptides and eventually into amino acids, which can then be absorbed by the body. The term proteose is sometimes used interchangeably with proteid, though proteid can also refer to proteins themselves. In nutritional contexts, the breakdown of proteins into proteoses is a crucial step in making dietary protein available for absorption and utilization by the organism. This digestive process ensures that the complex protein molecules consumed in food are efficiently processed into their constituent parts for metabolic functions.