proteins are broken down by a number of different proteases
proteases catalyse the conversion of proteins into amino acids by hydrolysing the peptide bonds between amino acids
amino acids are absorbed via co-transport. sodium ions are actively transported out of the ileum epithelial cells into the blood, creating a sodium concentration gradient. they can then diffuse form the ileum through sodium-dependent transporter proteins, carrying the amino acids with them
endopeptidases hydrolysepeptide bonds in the middle of a polypeptide
exopeptidases hydrolysepeptide bonds at the end of a polypeptide
dipeptidases hydrolysepeptide bonds on dipeptides and produce single amino acids
