An enzyme that breaks down dipeptides (two-amino-acid chains) into individual amino acids, crucial for protein digestion.
Compound of 'dipeptide' and '-ase' (the suffix for enzymes), literally 'the substance that breaks dipeptides.' This enzyme was named after its function in digestion was understood.
Your small intestine is lined with dipeptidase factories—these enzymes are working right now converting the chicken you ate into amino acid pairs your body can actually absorb through the intestinal wall!
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