In this session, we are exploring the key differences between pepsin and trypsin, two important digestive enzymes involved in protein breakdown. Although both enzymes help digest proteins, they differ in origin, pH activity, activation, and site of action within the digestive tract.
Pepsin works in the stomach under acidic conditions, while trypsin functions in the small intestine under alkaline conditions. Understanding these differences is essential for students studying human physiology, biochemistry, or digestive health. Below are the definitions followed by a detailed comparison table.
Definition of Pepsin:
Pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme secreted by the gastric glands in the stomach in the form of pepsinogen. It becomes active in an acidic pH and breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.
Definition of Trypsin:
Trypsin is a protein-digesting enzyme secreted by the pancreas as trypsinogen and activated in the small intestine. It works in an alkaline pH and further digests peptides into amino acids.
10 Key Differences Between Pepsin and Trypsin
| Pepsin | Trypsin |
|---|---|
| Secreted by gastric glands in the stomach. | Secreted by the pancreas and acts in the small intestine. |
| Active in acidic pH (around 1.5–2). | Active in alkaline pH (around 7.5–8.5). |
| Secreted as an inactive precursor called pepsinogen. | Secreted as an inactive precursor called trypsinogen. |
| Activated by hydrochloric acid in the stomach. | Activated by the enzyme enterokinase in the duodenum. |
| Begins protein digestion in the stomach. | Continues protein digestion in the small intestine. |
| Functions best in highly acidic conditions. | Functions best in mildly basic conditions. |
| Breaks proteins into smaller polypeptides. | Breaks polypeptides into dipeptides and amino acids. |
| Denatured and inactivated at basic pH. | Inactive at acidic pH. |
| Works in the early phase of protein digestion. | Works in the later phase of protein digestion. |
| Example of a gastric protease. | Example of a pancreatic protease. |
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