Peptides are molecules that consist of two or more amino acids linked in a chain. Proteins are also amino acids linked in a chain, but peptides are smaller. The dividing line between proteins and peptides is around 50 amino acids in a chain. Peptides are sometimes called dipeptides, tripeptides, tetrapeptides and according to the number of amino acids in their chain.
Peptides play an important role in nutrition absorption in humans and animals. The absorption of amino acids in organisms, has been measured in ruminating animals and it appears that the absorption of amino acids in the form of small chains or peptides is far more efficient than single amino acids alone. Peptides, therefore, may be the primary method for absorbing nutrition among these animals.
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