Question

Proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin and chymotrypsin are produced by the pancreas. These proteases are very efficient at digesting protein and will even digest tissues. However, there is a mechanism, which activates these enzymes and prevents them from digesting the tissues. What are the mechanisms by which these proteases are activated? ( please give the answer with complete reference)

Answer 1

There are many proteases which are synthesized in the pancreas. After the synthesis, it is secreted in to the lumen of the small intestine. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are the two major pancreatic proteases. They are packed and synthesized into the secretory vesicles as the inactive proenzymes such as trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen.

For the process of digestion, absorption of lipids, protein and carbohydrates. The enzyme pancreatic trypsinogen is activated by the duodenal enterokinase to become trypsin. The zymogens and trypsin combines to form more trypsin (autocatalysis), carboxypeptidases and chymotrypsin.