How do you digest proteins?

Answer 1

Proteases are a group of the digestive enzymes whose function is to break down protein. Protein digestion begins in your stomach, primarily with the action of the hydrochloric acid that is produced there, and by the enzyme called pepsin. The protein-containing foods are broken apart, separating out the protein, then the proteins are broken into their constituent parts, the amino acids, through hydrolysis. Hydrolysis involves the insertion of a water molecule between two amino acids, which forces the bond between them to break.

Your pancreas produces two other proteases, trypsin and chymotrypsin, and secretes them into the upper portion of the small intestine, where they continue to hydrolyze proteins. Because amino acids have very small dimensions, they are able to penetrate the intestinal lining. The amino acids are absorbed through selectively permeable membranes of the small intestine walls, which are arranged in folds called villi, by the blood in the capillaries of the small intestines, carried through the liver, and then go into general circulation.

Proteases can break down undigested protein, cellular debris, toxins, and certain bacteria and viruses in the blood, sparing the immune system this task. The immune system is then free to fight other infections.

Many plant seeds contain protease inhibitors that interfere with the absorption of their valuable proteins. These serve to protect the seed from being digested by an animal so that it is deposited intact in manure fertilizer, far from the parent plant to propagate. Protease inhibitors also combat cancer by preventing the synthesis of key proteins required for cancer cells to divide. Protease inhibitors block the initiation of the cancer process and also destroy premalignant cells. Soaking seeds in water to the point of germination greatly reduces the protease inhibitors, as does cooking seeds.

Answer 2

Protein that digest in the digestive system occurs first in the stomach and then the small intestine. The enzymes that are secreted by the pancreas will help with the digestion process.