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Protein digestion requires the presence of both pepsin and HCl because pepsin needs an acidic environment to be able to "work" or do its job. Pepsin needs an environment with a pH around 2, which is roughly the pH of HCl. Therefore, HCl aids pepsin in protien digestions by creating an optimal environment for pepsin to work and digest proteins.

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Why does pepsin work best at pH 2?

Pepsin works best at pH 2 because it is an enzyme involved in digesting proteins in the stomach, where the pH is low due to the presence of hydrochloric acid. The acidic environment helps to activate pepsin and maintain its optimal structure for protein digestion.


What secretions contains hydrochloric acid and pepsin?

Gastric juice, produced in the stomach, contains hydrochloric acid and pepsin. Hydrochloric acid helps to break down food and create an acidic environment for pepsin to function, which is an enzyme that aids in protein digestion.


Will a decrease in pH of the stomach affect protein digestion?

The stomach is normally at about pH 1.5 to 2, so it's already very acidic, and pepsin operates well at this level. However, if the stomach pH drops even further, the activity of the pepsin drops off rather rapidly, so protein digestion will be inhibited.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1552331/pdf/gut00725-0108.pdf


What helps with the protein digestion?

Protein digestion is aided by enzymes such as pepsin in the stomach and trypsin in the small intestine. These enzymes help break down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids, which can then be absorbed by the body. Adequate stomach acid levels and chewing food thoroughly also support protein digestion.


What happens when hcl and pepsin are mixed together?

When HCl (hydrochloric acid) and pepsin are mixed together, it creates an acidic environment in the stomach. This acidic environment helps in the activation of pepsin, which is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of proteins by breaking them down into smaller peptides. The combined action of HCl and pepsin plays a crucial role in the initial stages of protein digestion in the stomach.

Related Questions

How is protein converted during digestion?

converted by pepsin.


Churns food and begins protein digestion?

When pepsinogen is mixed with hydrochloric acid, it makes pepsin. Pepsin is the enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in stomach.


What type of nutrient is digested by pepsin in the stomach?

Pepsin in important for the digestion of protein. The enzyme is created in the stomach and breaks down the collagen protein.


Why does pepsin work best at pH 2?

Pepsin works best at pH 2 because it is an enzyme involved in digesting proteins in the stomach, where the pH is low due to the presence of hydrochloric acid. The acidic environment helps to activate pepsin and maintain its optimal structure for protein digestion.


Why enzyme pepsin works only in the stomach?

Protein digestion occurs in stomach only because it is safe for the body, as stomach has mucous secretions which prevents self digestion of stomach muscles by PEPSIN (enzyme for protein digestion) :)


Effect of HCl on protein digestion by pepsin and starch digestion by sallivary amylase?

HCl activates pepsinogen to form pepsin, which is the active form of the enzyme pepsin necessary for protein digestion in the stomach. However, HCl does not directly affect salivary amylase. Salivary amylase works optimally at a neutral pH in the mouth before food reaches the stomach, where it begins the digestion of starch into smaller sugars before being inactivated by stomach acid.


What role does pepsin play in the digestive system?

Pepsin is an enzyme that helps break down proteins in the stomach during digestion. It plays a crucial role in the initial stages of protein digestion by breaking down large protein molecules into smaller peptides.


Why will a decrease in pH of the stomach affect protein digestion?

A decrease in pH of the stomach will affect protein digestion because the acidic environment in the stomach is necessary for activating the enzyme pepsin, which breaks down proteins into smaller molecules for absorption in the intestines. If the pH is too low or too high, pepsin may not function properly, leading to incomplete protein digestion.


What are the enzymes that digest your food?

amylase = starch, digestion starts in the mouth, pepsin = protein, starts in the stomachlysosomes.


Is pepsin a protein?

Yes, pepsin is a protein.


Digestion of proteins?

Pepsin digest protein in the acidic environment of the stomach, Pancreatic Protease digests protein in the basic environment of the small intestine.


What uses peristalsis and pepsin to aid digestion?

The stomach uses peristalsis and pepsin to aid digestion.