Pepsin Is Secreted by Gastric Chief Cells in an Inactive Form and Is Subsequently Activated in the Gut Lumen
Pepsin is usually referred to as a single compound, but it is actually a family of protein-digesting enzymes that are secreted from the gastric glands. They are formed in the chief cells as inactive proenzymes called pepsinogens.
Pepsinogens are stored in the chief cells as granules until secreted into the lumen of the gastric glands. After secretion, pepsinogens are exposed to the acid contents of the stomach, resulting in cleavage of a small portion of the protein molecule, which leads to activation of the enzymes.Digestive enzymes that are synthesized and stored as inactive proenzymes and activated in the lumen of the gut are known by the general name of zymogens. The general pattern of zymogen formation and activation is necessary because the active enzymes could digest and destroy the cells that synthesize them.
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