Pepsin is an acidic protease that acts within the digestive system.
Layman's explanation:Pepsin is one of many enzymes that digest proteins. The active site groove within pepsin binds proteins, cleaves certain bonds, and releases the pieces. These smaller molecules are further digested by other proteases and peptidases, eventually forming molecules which are useful as fuel for cells or for the biosynthesis of proteins. In order to avoid the digestion of all proteins near pepsin, this digestive protein is only active when outside the cell and at a specific pH.
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