Question

What is the enzyme that breaks down protein?

Answer 1

Proteins:

Proteins are made up of a series of amino acids which are joined by peptide bonds.

Proteases :

1. So, cleavage of protein means breaking the peptide bond with an enzyme known as Protease.
2. Other than proteases there are two more pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine for breaking proteins into amino acids are chymotrypsin and trypsin.
3. The combination of enzymes works more effectively than individual enzymes on tripeptides, and dipeptides to make individual amino acids.
4. Protease along with trypsin hydrolyze peptide bonds.
5. Hence, enzymes that break down proteins in the food are pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase, dipeptidase, etc.