Definition

1. Noun:
   • Any of various water-soluble compounds that form by hydrolysis in the digestion of proteins to amino acids: A "peptone" is a type of polypeptide or mixture of polypeptides and amino acids produced during the enzymatic breakdown (digestion) of proteins. It is soluble in water and represents an intermediate stage in protein digestion before complete breakdown into individual amino acids.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The laboratory uses a nutrient broth containing peptone to grow bacteria.
  • During digestion, proteins are broken down into peptones before being further hydrolyzed.

Advanced Usage

• "Peptone water": A microbiological growth medium consisting primarily of peptone dissolved in water, often used for bacterial culture and diagnostic tests.
  • The sample was inoculated into peptone water to test for bacterial growth.

Variants and Related Words

• Peptonic (adj): Relating to or of the nature of a peptone.
  • The peptonic substances were analyzed further.

Synonyms

• Protein hydrolysate: A more general term for a mixture of amino acids and peptides resulting from the hydrolysis of proteins.
• Polypeptide mixture: Describes the composition of a peptone.

Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• Proteose: Another class of intermediate products in protein digestion, often larger or more complex than peptones.
• Tryptone: A specific type of peptone resulting from the digestion of casein by the enzyme trypsin.

Noun

1. any of various water-soluble compounds that form by hydrolysis in the digestion of proteins to amino acids