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Pepsin / ˈ p ɛ p s ɪ n / is an endopeptidase that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. It is one of the main digestive enzymes in the digestive systems of humans and many other animals, where it helps digest the proteins in food. Pepsin is an aspartic protease, using a catalytic aspartate in its active site. [2]
This type of cell also secretes gastric lipase enzymes, which help digest triglycerides into free fatty acids and di- and mono-glycerides. [3] There is also evidence that the gastric chief cell secretes leptin in response to the presence of food in the stomach. Leptin has been found in the pepsinogen granules of chief cells. [4]
Digestive enzymes take part in the chemical process of digestion, which follows the mechanical process of digestion. Food consists of macromolecules of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that need to be broken down chemically by digestive enzymes in the mouth, stomach, pancreas, and duodenum, before being able to be absorbed into the bloodstream ...
Pepsinogen is a precursor enzyme produced by the gastric chief cells, and gastric acid activates this to the enzyme pepsin which begins the digestion of proteins. As these two chemicals would damage the stomach wall, mucus is secreted by innumerable gastric glands in the stomach, to provide a slimy protective layer against the damaging effects ...
The enzyme is first made in the inactive form, pepsinogen by chief cells in the lining of the stomach. [24] With an impulse from the vagus nerve, pepsinogen is secreted into the stomach, where it mixes with hydrochloric acid to form pepsin. [25] Once active, pepsin works to break down proteins in foods such as dairy, meat, and eggs. [24]
The oxyntic gland contains the parietal cells that produce hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor, and chief cells that produce pepsinogen and gastric lipase. The pyloric gland is found in the pyloric region, the remaining 20 per cent of the stomach. The pyloric glands are mainly in the pyloric antrum. The pyloric gland secretes gastrin from ...
The stomach can also produce gastric lipase, which can help digesting fat. The contents of the stomach are completely emptied into the duodenum within two to four hours after the meal is eaten. Different types of food take different amounts of time to process. Foods heavy in carbohydrates empty fastest, followed by high-protein foods.
The acidity aids in digestion of food by promoting the unfolding (or denaturing) of ingested proteins. As proteins unfold, the peptide bonds linking component amino acids are exposed. Gastric HCl simultaneously cleaves pepsinogen , a zymogen , into active pepsin , an endopeptidase that advances the digestive process by breaking the now-exposed ...