As food travels through the digestive system it is exposed to a variety of pH levels. The stomach has a pH of 2 due to the presence of Hydrochloride acid and the smallest intestine has a pH ranging from 7 to 9. HCI converts pepsinogen into pepsin an enzyme that digests proteins in the stomach. Which of the following most likely happens to pepsin as it enters the small intestine.

The pepsin begins to replicate

The pepsin's activity increases to digest more proteins

The pepsin becomes inactive

The pepsin's shape changes to engulf large proteins

Question

Biology

Ryland

5 May, 11:14

As food travels through the digestive system it is exposed to a variety of pH levels. The stomach has a pH of 2 due to the presence of Hydrochloride acid and the smallest intestine has a pH ranging from 7 to 9. HCI converts pepsinogen into pepsin an enzyme that digests proteins in the stomach. Which of the following most likely happens to pepsin as it enters the small intestine.

The pepsin begins to replicate

The pepsin's activity increases to digest more proteins

The pepsin becomes inactive

The pepsin's shape changes to engulf large proteins

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Jazmine Schmidt · Answer 1

The answer is C. Pepsin becomes inactive as soon as it reaches small intestine.

Explanation:

Enzymes are pH specific. They once work at those specific values and if those are changed they either degrade or become inactive. The pH of stomach is acidic and that of the small intestine is basic. Therefore the enzymes will become inactive when it enters small intestine.