pepsin

pep·sin also pep·sine  (ppsn)

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.

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[Greek pepsis, digestion (from peptein, to digest; see pek^w- in Indo-European roots) + -in.]

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pepsin

Noun

an enzyme produced in the stomach, which, when activated by acid, breaks down proteins [Greek peptein to digest]

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pepsin  (ppsn)

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

Thesaurus

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