Which enzyme digests proteins?

Which enzyme digests proteins?

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

Answer: (D)

Proteins are polymers held together by peptide bonds, so digestion of proteins requires an enzyme that cleaves those bonds. That enzyme is a protease, which catalyzes hydrolysis of peptide bonds to produce smaller peptides and amino acids. In the body, proteases like pepsin in the stomach and pancreatic proteases in the small intestine do this job. By contrast, amylase digests starch (carbohydrates), lipase digests fats, and nuclease digests nucleic acids, so only protease matches the digestion of proteins.

Proteins are polymers held together by peptide bonds, so digestion of proteins requires an enzyme that cleaves those bonds. That enzyme is a protease, which catalyzes hydrolysis of peptide bonds to produce smaller peptides and amino acids. In the body, proteases like pepsin in the stomach and pancreatic proteases in the small intestine do this job. By contrast, amylase digests starch (carbohydrates), lipase digests fats, and nuclease digests nucleic acids, so only protease matches the digestion of proteins.