Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

08:04
Isolation of Primary Mouse Hepatocytes for Nascent Protein Synthesis Analysis by Non-radioactive L-azidohomoalanine Labeling Method
Published on: October 23, 2018
An appetite for protein
Stephen J Simpson1, David Raubenheimer1
1Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
None:
The fly gut integrates nutrient-specific appetite control.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Proteins: Dietary Sources and Requirements
Consuming animal-based products offers high-quality proteins that contain optimal levels and combinations of essential amino acids, crucial for tissue repair and growth. Foods like eggs, milk, fish, and most meats are a source of complete proteins. Legumes and cereals are abundant in proteins; however, they typically lack a full range of essential amino acids. As a result, they are considered incomplete protein sources. Some plant sources like soybeans, quinoa, and amaranth do contain complete...
Protein Absorption
Proteins in the gastrointestinal tract typically come from food, but they can also originate from disintegrated cells or secreted enzymes. In the stomach, the enzyme pepsin breaks down these proteins into polypeptides. The fragments then move into the duodenum as a semi-fluid mass called chyme. Pancreatic proteases, such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, and intestinal brush border enzymes like carboxypeptidases further dismantle the polypeptides into tripeptides, dipeptides, and free amino acids.
Protein Digestion
Protein digestion begins in the stomach, where the highly acidic environment can easily disrupt protein structure by exposing the peptide bonds of polypeptide chains. After polypeptide chains are broken into individual amino acids by a series of digestive enzymes, the amino acids are transported to the liver via the bloodstream to produce energy.
What are Proteins?
Overview
What are Proteins?
Proteins are polymers of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Proteins and polypeptides are interchangeably used to refer to long chains of amino acids. However, polypeptides have a molecular weight of fewer than 10,000 daltons, while proteins have greater molecular weight. Polypeptides with less than 20 amino acids are called oligopeptides or simply peptides. Interactions among the constituent amino acid side chains of proteins help them fold into a stable 3-dimensional structure...

