Which enzyme digests proteins?

Which enzyme digests proteins?

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

Answer: (D)

Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins by hydrolyzing peptide bonds between amino acids. In digestion, this means proteins are reduced to smaller peptides and eventually amino acids that can be absorbed. For example, pepsin in the stomach and various pancreatic proteases in the small intestine perform this job. The other enzymes target different foods: amylase digests carbohydrates like starch, lipase digests fats, and lactase digests the sugar lactose. So the enzyme that digests proteins is the protease.

Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins by hydrolyzing peptide bonds between amino acids. In digestion, this means proteins are reduced to smaller peptides and eventually amino acids that can be absorbed. For example, pepsin in the stomach and various pancreatic proteases in the small intestine perform this job. The other enzymes target different foods: amylase digests carbohydrates like starch, lipase digests fats, and lactase digests the sugar lactose. So the enzyme that digests proteins is the protease.