PEPSIN Meaning and
Definition
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Pepsin is a digestive enzyme that plays a crucial role in the breakdown of proteins in the stomach during the process of digestion. It is classified as a protease, which means it is responsible for breaking down proteins into smaller peptides, aiding in their absorption and utilization by the body.
Pepsin is primarily produced and released by specialized cells in the lining of the stomach known as chief cells. These cells secrete pepsinogen, the inactive form of pepsin. Upon exposure to the acidic environment of the stomach, pepsinogen undergoes a chemical change and is converted into its active form, pepsin. This activation process is facilitated by another enzyme called gastric acid or hydrochloric acid.
Once active, pepsin works by cleaving peptide bonds between amino acid residues in proteins, breaking them down into smaller peptide fragments. These fragments can then be further broken down by other enzymes and absorbed through the intestines for use in various bodily functions, such as muscle formation and repair.
The activity of pepsin is tightly regulated to prevent damage to the stomach lining and surrounding tissues. It is inactivated and degraded when it reaches the more neutral pH environment of the small intestine.
Pepsin supplements may be used in certain medical conditions, such as digestive disorders, to enhance protein digestion and alleviate symptoms associated with impaired protein breakdown in the stomach.
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A digestive ferment or enzyme (protease) of the gastric juice which converts proteins into peptones and proteoses, pepsinum.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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Etymology of PEPSIN
The word pepsin comes from the Greek word peptein, which means to digest. It was coined by the German physiologist Theodor Schwann in the early 19th century to describe the digestive enzyme found in the stomach that helps break down proteins. The suffix -in is a common ending used to denote an enzyme. Therefore, pepsin literally means digestive enzyme.
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