Pepsin vs. Trypsin: Key Similarities & Differences - Digestive Enzymes

Similarities of Pepsin and Trypsin

- Both pepsin and trypsin are digestive enzymes.

- Both pepsin and trypsin are produced in the stomach (pepsin) and pancreas (trypsin).

- Both pepsin and trypsin are endopeptidases, which means they cleave peptide bonds within the polypeptide chain.

- Both pepsin and trypsin have an acidic pH optimum. Pepsin has an optimal pH of 1.5-2.0, while trypsin has an optimal pH of 8.0.

- Both pepsin and trypsin are synthesized as inactive zymogens (pepsinogen and trypsinogen, respectively) and are activated by proteolytic cleavage.

- Both pepsin and trypsin are serine proteases, which means they use a serine residue in their active site to catalyze peptide bond hydrolysis.