Question

How are proteins broken down?

Answer 1

Breakdown of proteins:

1. Proteins are naturally occurring complex molecules that are made up of amino acids and linked together by peptide bonds.
2. They form the structural components of cells, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, and other chemicals.
3. Hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach denatures the proteins and simplifies tertiary proteins into polypeptide chains.
4. HCl helps in converting the inactive pepsinogen to form pepsin which further breaks down peptide bonds between the amino acids.
5. Denaturation exposes the protein's peptide bonds and pepsin acts on the polypeptide chains to create shorter polypeptide chains.
6. In the small intestine, trypsin breaks them into tri/di-peptides and amino acids.
7. The simplified amino acids are then utilized for cellular processes.