Which enzyme is described as breaking down proteins into amino acids?

Which enzyme is described as breaking down proteins into amino acids?

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

Answer: (B)

Proteases catalyze the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in proteins, releasing amino acids. In digestion, these enzymes (like pepsin in the stomach and pancreatic proteases in the small intestine) break dietary proteins into amino acids and small peptides that can be absorbed. By contrast, amylase targets starch to sugars, lipase digests fats into fatty acids and glycerol, and nucleases cleave nucleic acids into nucleotides. So the enzyme described as breaking down proteins into amino acids is a protease.

Proteases catalyze the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in proteins, releasing amino acids. In digestion, these enzymes (like pepsin in the stomach and pancreatic proteases in the small intestine) break dietary proteins into amino acids and small peptides that can be absorbed. By contrast, amylase targets starch to sugars, lipase digests fats into fatty acids and glycerol, and nucleases cleave nucleic acids into nucleotides. So the enzyme described as breaking down proteins into amino acids is a protease.