kimotripszinogént

Kimotripszinogén is the inactive precursor form of the enzyme chymotrypsin. It is synthesized in the pancreas as a zymogen, a type of inactive protein that is converted into its active form at a specific site. This inactive state is crucial for preventing premature activation and autodigestion of the pancreas itself.

The conversion of kimotripszinogén to active chymotrypsin occurs in the small intestine. This process is initiated by trypsin, another pancreatic enzyme, which cleaves kimotripszinogén at a specific site to form an intermediate active form. Further autocatalytic cleavage of this intermediate by chymotrypsin itself leads to the formation of the fully active chymotrypsin molecule. Chymotrypsin plays a vital role in protein digestion by breaking down large protein molecules into smaller peptides, which can then be further processed by other enzymes. It specifically cleaves peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of aromatic amino acids like phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. The regulation of kimotripszinogén activation is a tightly controlled process, essential for maintaining digestive health.