pepsin

or pep·sine

[ pep-sin ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Biochemistry.

an enzyme, produced in the stomach, that in the presence of hydrochloric acid splits proteins into proteoses and peptones.
a commercial form of this substance, obtained from the stomachs of hogs, used as a digestive, as a ferment in the manufacture of cheese, etc.

pepsin

/ ˈpɛpsɪn /

a proteolytic enzyme produced in the stomach in the inactive form pepsinogen, which, when activated by acid, splits proteins into peptones

pepsin

/ pĕp′sĭn /

Any of various digestive enzymes found in vertebrate animals that catalyze the hydrolysis of proteins to peptides.

Origin of pepsin¹

1835–45; < Greek péps ( is ) digestion ( pep-, base of péptein to digest + -sis -sis ) + -in ²

Origin of pepsin¹

C19: via German from Greek pepsis, from peptein to digest

It is secreted by the gastric glands, and is transformed into pepsin by the action of a free acid.

Deficiency of rennin has the same significance as deficiency of pepsin, and is more easily recognized.

Pepsin is rarely or never absent in the presence of free hydrochloric acid.

Since the two enzyms are almost invariably present or absent together, the test for rennin serves also as a test for pepsin.

It will be noted that they now make no claim for pepsin, nor do they state that it contains iron in organic form.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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