pep·sin also pep·sine (p p s n)n. 1. A digestive enzyme found in gastric juice that catalyzes the breakdown of protein to peptides. 2. A substance containing pepsin, obtained from the stomachs of hogs and calves and used as a digestive aid. [Greek pepsis, digestion (from peptein, to digest; see pekw- in Indo-European roots) + -in.] |
pepsin, pepsine [ˈpɛpsɪn]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biochemistry) a proteolytic enzyme produced in the stomach in the inactive form pepsinogen, which, when activated by acid, splits proteins into peptones
[via German from Greek pepsis, from peptein to digest]
| pepsin (ppsn) Any of various digestive enzymes found in vertebrate animals that catalyze the hydrolysis of proteins to peptides. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | pepsin - an enzyme produced in the stomach that splits proteins into peptones gastric acid, gastric juice - digestive secretions of the stomach glands consisting chiefly of hydrochloric acid and mucin and the enzymes pepsin and rennin and lipase enzyme - any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions |
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