The protein digesting enzyme and indicate the locations of protein digestion

The diet of human beings consists of different types of proteins. As a result of digestion, these protein ultimately get broken down into their sim­plest units namely amino acids. The digestion of the protein begins in the stomach and is completed in the small intestine. Proteins remain unal­tered in the buccal cavity as the saliva does not have any protein digesting enzymes.

The gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid and two proteases namely pepsinogen and prorennin. Hydrochloric acid activates these enzymes into pepsin and renin. Further digestion of proteins takes place in the small intestine into which flows the pancreatic juice. The pancreatic juice con­sists of three protein digesting enzymes namely tripsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase.

The intestinal juice also contains two digestive proteases namely amino peptidases and dipeptidases.