Which enzyme breaks down proteins?

Which enzyme breaks down proteins?

• A. Protease
• B. Lipase
• C. Amylase
• D. Lactase

Answer: (A)

Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins by cleaving peptide bonds between amino acids. This makes them specialized for protein digestion, with activity starting in the stomach (where pepsin begins protein breakdown) and continuing in the small intestine (with pancreatic proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin producing shorter peptides that are further degraded to amino acids). The other enzymes target different nutrients: lipase digests fats into fatty acids and glycerol; amylase breaks down carbohydrates like starch into sugars; lactase breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose. So the enzyme that breaks down proteins is protease.

Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins by cleaving peptide bonds between amino acids. This makes them specialized for protein digestion, with activity starting in the stomach (where pepsin begins protein breakdown) and continuing in the small intestine (with pancreatic proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin producing shorter peptides that are further degraded to amino acids). The other enzymes target different nutrients: lipase digests fats into fatty acids and glycerol; amylase breaks down carbohydrates like starch into sugars; lactase breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose. So the enzyme that breaks down proteins is protease.