Question: Which enzyme works best in acidic conditions?
Answer:
- Pepsin enzyme that works best in acidic conditions.
- It is primarily active in the acidic environment of the stomach, (pH around 1.5 to 2.5).
- Pepsin is secreted as an inactive form called pepsinogen, which is activated by the acidic conditions in the stomach
- Hydrochloric acid (HCl) released by gastric cells lowers the pH of the stomach, triggering the conversion of pepsinogen into pepsin.
| Enzyme | Description | Function |
| Pepsin | Enzyme | Digests proteins in the stomach |
| Optimal pH | pH range of 1.5 to 2.5 | Works best in highly acidic conditions |
| Location | Stomach | Active in the gastric environment |
| Secreted by | Chief cells in the gastric glands | Produced and released by these cells |
| Substrate | Proteins | Breaks down proteins into smaller peptide chains |
| Activation | Converted from pepsinogen | Inactive form (pepsinogen) is activated by acid |
| Specificity | Cleaves peptide bonds | Hydrolyzes peptide bonds in proteins |
| Denaturation | Acidic conditions denature proteins | Low pH in the stomach aids pepsin’s activity |
| Regulation | Controlled by gastric acid secretion | Acid release triggers pepsin activation |
| Medical role | Used in diagnostic tests and research | Pepsin levels can indicate certain gastric issues |
Important Questions about Enzymes
- Enzymes MCQs
- Inhibition in enzymes
- Which enzyme digests starch?
- Which enzyme digests protein?
- which enzyme is present in saliva?
- Which enzyme is not present in succus entericus?
- Which enzyme breaks down protein in the stomach?
- Which enzyme converts fibrinogen to fibrin?
- Which enzyme converts glucose into alcohol?
- Which enzyme digests fat?
- Which enzyme digests milk protein?
- Which enzyme is used in PCR?
- Which enzyme unzips the DNA double helix?
- Which liver enzyme increases with alcohol?
- Which enzyme cuts DNA?
- Which enzyme catalyzes the first step of glycolysis?
- Which enzyme binds DNA fragments together?
- Which enzyme transcribes DNA into RNA?
- which enzyme adds new nucleotides?
- Which enzyme digests cellulose?
- Which enzyme separates the two strands of DNA?
- Which enzyme converts carbohydrates into glucose?
- Which enzyme removes RNA primer?
- Which enzymes help in digestion?
- Which enzyme works best in acidic conditions?
- Which enzyme synthesizes tRNA?
- Which enzyme secreted by pancreas?
- Which enzyme converts maltose into glucose?
- Which vitamins work as coenzyme?