What is "dipeptidase"

n. (context biochemistry English) Any of a class of enzymes that hydrolyze dipeptides in the small intestine.

Dipeptidases are enzymes secreted by enterocytes into the small intestine. Dipeptidases hydrolyze bound pairs of amino acids, called dipeptides.

Dipeptidases are secreted onto the brush border of the villi in the small intestine, where they cleave dipeptides into their two component amino acids prior to absorption.

Dipeptidases are also found within the enterocytes themselves, performing cytosolic digestion of absorbed dipeptides.

They are exopeptidases, classified under EC number 3.4.13.