Metabolism of heat-damaged proteins in the rat. Inhibition of amino acid uptake by "unavailable peptides" isolated from enzymic digests of heat-damaged cod fillet.

1. An extract containing "unavailable" small peptides was isolated from an enzymic digest of heat-damaged cod fillet and examined for its influence on uptake of leucine in the rat small intestine, using the everted-sac technique. 2. The extract strongly inhibited the uptake of leucine. It had no effect on uptake of glucose or its metabolism to lactate. 3. The findings are discussed in relation to the concept (Buraczewski, Buraczewska & Ford, 1967) that the accumulation of "unavailable peptide" material in the intestine, found in rats given heat-damaged protein, might hinder the absorption of amino acids by blocking a mechanism involved in their transport across the mucosal barrier.