What Is The Role of Pepsin In Stomach. Digestive enzyme that breaks down food proteins. It is secreted by cells in the lining of the stomach. It is released as pepsinogen.
What Is The Role of Pepsin In Stomach.
Pepsin is an enzyme produced in the stomach that plays a crucial role in the process of protein digestion. It is secreted by chief cells in the stomach lining in an inactive form called pepsinogen, which is then activated by the acidic environment in the stomach.
Once activated, pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller peptide fragments, which can be further broken down into individual amino acids by other enzymes in the small intestine. This process of protein digestion is essential for the absorption of amino acids, which are needed for various functions in the body, including building and repairing tissues, producing enzymes and hormones, and supporting immune function.
In addition to its role in protein digestion, pepsin also plays a role in protecting the stomach lining from bacterial infections by breaking down harmful bacteria that may be ingested with food. However, excessive activation of pepsin can lead to damage of the stomach lining, which can result in conditions such as gastritis or ulcers.
When pepsinogen is exposed to hydrochloric acid in the stomach , it unfolds and breaks down into pepsin. Pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller portions (polypeptides) and amino acids , without breaking them down, a function performed by other enzymes in the intestine. pepsin is secreted by cells of the gastric mucosa. Requires a low pH or acid pH to function; The proper pH ranges between 1.5 and 2.5. The amino acids that are released thanks to pepsin are mainly phenylalanine , tryptophan and tyrosine .
The function of hydrochloric acid is to denature proteins; activate the change of pepsinogen to pepsin and thus start the hydrolysis of proteins. Pepsinogen is the inactive form of pepsin.
Pepsin preferentially hydrolyzes peptide bonds, whose amino group belongs to aromatic amino acids, although it performs this process slowly in other bonds.
