What is another term for soluble proteins formed during protein digestion?

During the process of protein digestion, proteins are broken down into smaller peptides and ultimately into soluble forms. Peptones are a specific type of soluble protein that results from the partial digestion of proteins, usually by enzymatic action in the stomach or intestines. They consist of a mixture of peptides and amino acids that are soluble in water but not necessarily small enough to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Polypeptides are longer chains of amino acids that may not be fully soluble until further digested into smaller peptides. Amino acids are the end products of protein digestion, but they are not the soluble proteins formed during the initial stages of digestion. Enzymes, while crucial for the digestion process itself, are not soluble proteins formed as a result of digestion.

Thus, peptones uniquely highlight a key aspect of the biochemical changes that occur during protein digestion, making this term the best fit in the context of soluble proteins created from protein breakdown.