Pepsin is a powerful digestive enzyme found in gastric juice . It breaks down proteins from food sources like meat, eggs, dairy products, and seeds into smaller peptides and amino acids. This process is crucial for proper protein absorption in the body.
Pepsin is produced in the stomach by chief cells in an inactive form called pepsinogen. When food enters the stomach, gastric glands are triggered to release pepsinogen. The acidic environment of the stomach, with a pH of around 1.5 to 2.0 created by hydrochloric acid, activates pepsinogen into pepsin. The activated pepsin then begins to cleave the protein molecules in the food into smaller chains of amino acids called peptides. These peptides are small enough to be absorbed by the small intestine and transported throughout the body for various functions.
Here's a summary of the key points about pepsin:
- Function: Breaks down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids for absorption.
- Produced by: Chief cells in the stomach.
- Inactive form: Pepsinogen
- Activated by: Hydrochloric acid in the stomach
- Optimal pH: 1.5 to 2.0