7.4.7
Pepsin & Trypsin
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Pepsin & Trypsin
Pepsin and trypsin are both enzymes that break down proteins for absorption.

Proteins and digestion
- Enzymes are substances that speed up chemical reactions in the body.
- They help break down large food molecules into smaller ones that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
- Proteases are a specific type of enzyme that breaks down proteins.
- Pepsin and trypsin are two important examples of proteases.

Pepsin
- Pepsin is a protease enzyme found in the stomach.
- It works best in a strong acidic condition (low pH, due to stomach acid).
- Its job is to break down protein into smaller chains of amino acids called peptides.

Trypsin
- Trypsin is another protease enzyme, released from the pancreas into the small intestine.
- It works best in alkaline conditions (higher pH, due to bile neutralising stomach acid).
- Trypsin continues the job of breaking down proteins and peptides into even smaller molecules (into individual amino acids), ready for absorption.

Why are both important?
- Pepsin starts protein digestion in the stomach.
- Trypsin completes the process in the small intestine.
- The final products, amino acids, are absorbed into the blood and used for growth and repair.
1Classification of Living Organisms
1.1Characteristics of Living Organisms
1.2Concept and Uses of Classification Systems
2Organisation of the Organism
2.1Cell Structure
3Movement Into & Out of Cells
3.2Osmosis
4Biological Molecules
5Enzymes
6Plant Nutrition
6.1Photosynthesis
6.1.1Photosynthesis6.1.2Photosynthesis - Plant Gas Exchange6.1.3Photosynthesis in Farming6.1.4Uses of Glucose6.1.5Ion Deficiency Conditions6.1.6Rate of Photosynthesis6.1.7Photosynthesis Experiments6.1.8Photosynthesis Equation6.1.9Photosynthesis - Calculations6.1.10Limiting Factors6.1.11Grade 9 - Photosynthesis Experiment6.1.12Exam-Style Questions - Photosynthesis
7Human Nutrition
7.2Digestive System
7.3Physical Digestion
7.4Chemical Digestion
7.5Absorption
8Transport in Plants
8.1Xylem & Phloem
8.2Water Uptake
8.3Transpiration
9Transport in Animals
9.1Circulatory Systems
9.2Heart
9.3Blood Vessels
10Diseases & Immunity
10.1Diseases & Immunity
11Gas Exchange in Humans
12Respiration
13Excretion in Humans
14Coordination & Response
14.1Coordination & Response
14.2Sense Organs
14.3Hormones
14.4Homeostasis
14.4.1Homeostasis14.4.2Regulating Internal Conditions14.4.3Control Systems14.4.4Negative Feedback14.4.5Thermoregulation14.4.6Thermoregulation - Hot and Cold14.4.7Thermoregulation - Skin14.4.8Thermoregulation - Sweating & Shivering14.4.9Thermoregulation - Hairs14.4.10Thermoregulation - Blood Vessels14.4.11Blood Glucose14.4.12Detecting Glucose14.4.13Type 1 Diabetes14.4.14End of Topic Test - Homeostasis & Hormones14.4.15Grade 9 - Hormonal Coordination
16Reproduction
16.1Asexual Reproduction
16.2Sexual Reproduction
16.3Sexual Reproduction in Plants
16.4Sexual Reproduction in Humans
16.5Sex Hormones in Humans
16.6Sexually Transmitted Infections
17Inheritance
17.1Chromosomes, Genes & Proteins
17.2Mitosis & Meiosis
17.3Monohybrid Inheritance
17.3.1Alleles17.3.2Phenotype17.3.3Sex Determination17.3.4Monohybrid Inheritance17.3.5Punnett Square17.3.6Blood Groups17.3.7Sex-linked Disorders17.3.8Cystic Fibrosis17.3.9Cystic Fibrosis - Punnett Square17.3.10Cystic Fibrosis - Pedigree Diagram17.3.11Test Crosses17.3.12End of Topic Test - Genes & Inheritance
18Variation & Selection
18.1Variation
18.2Adaptive Features
19Organisms & Their Environment
19.1Energy Flow
19.2Food Chains & Food Webs
19.3Nutrient Cycles
20Human Influence on Ecosystems
20.1Food Supply
20.2Habitat Destruction
20.3Pollution
21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
21.1Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
Jump to other topics
1Classification of Living Organisms
1.1Characteristics of Living Organisms
1.2Concept and Uses of Classification Systems
2Organisation of the Organism
2.1Cell Structure
3Movement Into & Out of Cells
3.2Osmosis
4Biological Molecules
5Enzymes
6Plant Nutrition
6.1Photosynthesis
6.1.1Photosynthesis6.1.2Photosynthesis - Plant Gas Exchange6.1.3Photosynthesis in Farming6.1.4Uses of Glucose6.1.5Ion Deficiency Conditions6.1.6Rate of Photosynthesis6.1.7Photosynthesis Experiments6.1.8Photosynthesis Equation6.1.9Photosynthesis - Calculations6.1.10Limiting Factors6.1.11Grade 9 - Photosynthesis Experiment6.1.12Exam-Style Questions - Photosynthesis
7Human Nutrition
7.2Digestive System
7.3Physical Digestion
7.4Chemical Digestion
7.5Absorption
8Transport in Plants
8.1Xylem & Phloem
8.2Water Uptake
8.3Transpiration
9Transport in Animals
9.1Circulatory Systems
9.2Heart
9.3Blood Vessels
10Diseases & Immunity
10.1Diseases & Immunity
11Gas Exchange in Humans
12Respiration
13Excretion in Humans
14Coordination & Response
14.1Coordination & Response
14.2Sense Organs
14.3Hormones
14.4Homeostasis
14.4.1Homeostasis14.4.2Regulating Internal Conditions14.4.3Control Systems14.4.4Negative Feedback14.4.5Thermoregulation14.4.6Thermoregulation - Hot and Cold14.4.7Thermoregulation - Skin14.4.8Thermoregulation - Sweating & Shivering14.4.9Thermoregulation - Hairs14.4.10Thermoregulation - Blood Vessels14.4.11Blood Glucose14.4.12Detecting Glucose14.4.13Type 1 Diabetes14.4.14End of Topic Test - Homeostasis & Hormones14.4.15Grade 9 - Hormonal Coordination
16Reproduction
16.1Asexual Reproduction
16.2Sexual Reproduction
16.3Sexual Reproduction in Plants
16.4Sexual Reproduction in Humans
16.5Sex Hormones in Humans
16.6Sexually Transmitted Infections
17Inheritance
17.1Chromosomes, Genes & Proteins
17.2Mitosis & Meiosis
17.3Monohybrid Inheritance
17.3.1Alleles17.3.2Phenotype17.3.3Sex Determination17.3.4Monohybrid Inheritance17.3.5Punnett Square17.3.6Blood Groups17.3.7Sex-linked Disorders17.3.8Cystic Fibrosis17.3.9Cystic Fibrosis - Punnett Square17.3.10Cystic Fibrosis - Pedigree Diagram17.3.11Test Crosses17.3.12End of Topic Test - Genes & Inheritance
18Variation & Selection
18.1Variation
18.2Adaptive Features
19Organisms & Their Environment
19.1Energy Flow
19.2Food Chains & Food Webs
19.3Nutrient Cycles
20Human Influence on Ecosystems
20.1Food Supply
20.2Habitat Destruction
20.3Pollution
21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
21.1Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
Practice questions on Pepsin & Trypsin
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- 1What type of enzymes are pepsin and trypsin?Multiple choice
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