pepsin as an enzyme is quickly destroyed by the alkaline food from the mouth
all digestive enzymes pass through a precursor stage
pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme and might attack the stomach tissues
pepsin is not required in large quantities
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The correct answer is C. pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme and might attack the stomach tissues.
Pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme, meaning it breaks down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. If it were secreted in its active form, it could potentially digest the proteins in the stomach lining and cause damage. By secreting pepsinogen, an inactive precursor, the stomach protects itself from pepsin's digestive action until it is needed in the stomach lumen to digest food proteins.
Here's why the other options are incorrect:
A. Pepsin is not destroyed by alkaline food from the mouth. In fact, pepsin is most active in acidic environments, like the stomach.
B. While many digestive enzymes do have precursor stages, this is not the primary reason for pepsinogen.
D. Pepsin is indeed required for protein digestion in the stomach, so this option is incorrect.
Greetings, The Myschool Team.
The correct answer is C(pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme and might attack the stomach tissues). This is the correct reason why pepsin is secreted as pepsinogen. The currently selected answer B(all digestive enzymes pass through a precursor stage) is clearly not correct, as ptyalin for instance does not go through a precursor stage. A(pepsin as an enzyme is quickly destroyed by the alkaline food from the mouth) is not correct as the alkalinity of saliva would have been long neutralized by the highly acidic HCL present in the stomach. D(pepsin is not required in large quantities) is also not correct. So the right answer is C(pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme and might attack the stomach tissues). Thank you.
