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Glite Dictionary
proenzyme

proenzyme

8.9
An inactive protein in the body that becomes an active enzyme after a chemical change
  • noun
  • /ˌproʊˈɛnzaɪm/
  • Specialized
: proenzima
  • The pancreas secretes proenzyme forms that are activated in the digestive tract.

Examples

  • During inflammation, the body rapidly converts this proenzyme into an enzyme to fight infection.

  • Many proenzymes are produced in the pancreas.

  • A genetic mutation may prevent a proenzyme from being properly converted into its active form.

  • The proenzyme is activated by a specific chemical reaction.

  • A genetic mutation may prevent a proenzyme from being properly converted into its active form.

  • During inflammation, the body rapidly converts this proenzyme into an enzyme to fight infection.

  • The pancreas secretes proenzyme forms that are activated in the digestive tract.

Synonyms

zymogen
vsproenzyme
  • Specialized
9.9

An inactive substance in the body that becomes an active enzyme after a chemical change

is broader and covers activation by chemical change often removing part of the molecule

Surface Forms

proenzyme singular
proenzymes plural

Morphology

proenzyme = enzyme (semi-transparent) = pro + enzyme

Formally built from the productive biochemical prefix 'pro-' meaning 'precursor' plus 'enzyme', but the precise sense 'inactive precursor' is specialised vocabulary not obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Proenzyme begins with pro-, meaning 'before' as in prologue, and ends with enzyme, a protein that speeds up chemical reactions. So a proenzyme is a 'before' enzyme — an inactive form that becomes an active enzyme after part of it is changed.