Question

Why is pepsin inactive?

Answer 1

Digestive enzymes are the enzymes that break the food you eat into a small absorbable form. They are a form of protein that catalyses the chemical reaction which turns the nutrients into absorbable form in the digestive tract. Enzymes are also known as biological catalysts.

Complete answer:
Enzymes are also known as biological catalysts. They are a form of protein that catalyses the chemical reaction which turns the nutrients into absorbable form in the digestive tract. Our saliva also has digestive enzymes in it. Pancreas, gallbladder and liver are some organs that secrete digestive enzymes.

Different types of enzymes have different functions like:
- Amylase breaks the starch and carbohydrates,
- Protease breaks the protein,
- Lipase breaks the fats.

Insufficient production of digestive enzymes leads to difficulty in the digestion of food. It can also cause stomach pain, diarrhoea and acidity.

Gastric glands of the stomach secrete the pepsin enzyme in the inactive form of pepsinogen to protect the secretory cells of glands from the protein-digesting action of enzymes. When the inactive form reaches the stomach lumen with acidic pH it gets activated. The stomach wall is protected by mucus lining.

Note: Enzymes are also known as biological catalysts. They are a form of protein that catalyses the chemical reaction which turns the nutrients into absorbable form in the digestive tract. Gastric glands of the stomach secrete the pepsin enzyme in the inactive form of pepsinogen to protect the secretory cells of glands from the protein-digesting action of enzymes.