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pepsin

pepsin

1 4.6
A stomach substance that breaks proteins into smaller pieces
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛp.sɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pepsina
  • Taking HCL with pepsin helps you breakdown proteins.
  • pepsin and trypsin
  • acid and pepsin

Taking HCL with pepsin helps you breakdown proteins.

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Examples

  • It takes much less acid/pepsin exposure to cause tissue damage in the pharynx and larynx than in the esophagus.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Work regarding the function and stability of human pepsin shows that it is active at a pH level of 5.0.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Since 1997, our laboratory has been working to develop sensitive immunoassays for human pepsin.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Both LPR and GERD are caused by mucosal injury from acid and pepsin exposure.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Unlike the esophagus, the laryngopharynx does not have effective defense mechanisms to resist acid- and pepsin-induced injury once the UES is breached.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Tasker et al. recently used a pepsin assay to demonstrate high levels of pepsin in the middle ears of 45 of 54 children (83%) who required ventilating tubes.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In the stomach, pepsin plays a crucial role by breaking down proteins into smaller peptides during digestion.

  • The enzyme pepsin is essential for protein digestion, making it one of the most important enzymes in the digestive system.

  • For optimal digestion, it is important that pepsin functions effectively in an acidic environment.

Synonyms

proteolytic enzyme
vspepsin
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A substance that breaks proteins into smaller parts living things can use

is specific to the stomach and works during digestion
proteinase
vspepsin
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A substance in living things that breaks proteins into smaller parts

is specific to the stomach rather than general enzymes
peptidase
vspepsin
  • Specialized
8.8

An enzyme that breaks proteins into smaller pieces called peptides and amino acids

is limited to the stomach and acts during digestion

Surface Forms

pepsin singular
pepsins plural

Morphology

pepsin = peps + in

Although formed with the protein-name suffix '-in', the root 'peps-' is not a standalone English word and the term is a specialized scientific coinage, so learners cannot reliably infer its meaning from its parts.

Etymology

The word pepsin comes from the Greek root pept- (from Greek pepsis) meaning 'digestion' or 'to digest'. It is the same root you see in peptic and peptide, so pepsin is the stomach enzyme that helps 'digest' proteins into smaller parts.