Question

Why do the cells of the digestive system secrete proteolytic enzymes, such as pepsin, in their inactive forms

Answer 1

Answer:

In the initial stages of digestion of food, the stomach performs an essential role. Apart from doing churning and squeezing the food bolus, it also discharges an amalgamation of compounds, together called gastric juice. It comprises mucus, water, pepsin, HCl, and intrinsic factor. Of these five constituents, the principal enzyme that takes part in the digestion of protein is pepsin.

It dissociates proteins into amino acids and smaller peptides, which can easily get captivated within the small intestine. This pepsin is released in its sedentary form, or zymogen form called pepsinogen by the chief cells present within the gastric lining. It is released in its sedentary form by the stomach, by this the stomach inhibits the auto-digestion of defensive proteins in the digestive tract's lining.