Which enzyme catalyzes the breakdown of proteins into amino acids?

Which enzyme catalyzes the breakdown of proteins into amino acids?

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

Answer: (C)

Proteases are enzymes that catalyze proteolysis, breaking peptide bonds in proteins to produce smaller peptides and free amino acids. This is exactly what’s happening when proteins are digested in the digestive system or broken down in assays: peptide bonds are hydrolyzed, yielding amino acids that cells can use. In the body, stomach acid activates pepsin, a protease, and the small intestine uses pancreatic proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin to finish the job. Amylase targets carbohydrates such as starch, nuclease cleaves nucleic acids, and lipase acts on fats, so they don’t produce amino acids from proteins.

Proteases are enzymes that catalyze proteolysis, breaking peptide bonds in proteins to produce smaller peptides and free amino acids. This is exactly what’s happening when proteins are digested in the digestive system or broken down in assays: peptide bonds are hydrolyzed, yielding amino acids that cells can use. In the body, stomach acid activates pepsin, a protease, and the small intestine uses pancreatic proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin to finish the job. Amylase targets carbohydrates such as starch, nuclease cleaves nucleic acids, and lipase acts on fats, so they don’t produce amino acids from proteins.