The distribution of peptidase activity in the small intestine of sheep

1. The activity of peptidase enzyme(s) was measured in homogenates of mucosa taken at slaughter from sites along the length of sheep small intestine. 2. The activity of the homogenate towards six dipeptides showed a similar pattern of distribution for each substrate. Activity was lowest in the proximal duodenum, rising through the jejunum to peak in the mid-ileum and declining towards the terminal ileum. The distribution of activity towards two tripeptides was similar. 3. Studies using the inhibitor p-hydroxymercuribenzoate showed that the activity towards the dipeptides was mainly localized in the cytosol fraction, while that towards the tripeptides was evenly distributed between the cytosol and the brush-border and activity towards a tetrapeptide was mainly associated with the brush-border. 4. The results are discussed in relation to the site and mechanism of protein digestion and absorption in the ruminant small intestine.