Multiple Choice
A protein's hydrogen bonds are broken and its structure is unfolded when the protein:
140
views
4. Protein Structure
Denaturation
Multiple Choice
In the stomach, what is the primary role of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in protein digestion?
A
It directly hydrolyzes peptide bonds in proteins into free amino acids without requiring enzymes.
B
It emulsifies dietary fats to increase the surface area for pancreatic lipase action.
C
It neutralizes stomach acid to raise pH, optimizing trypsin activity in the stomach.
D
It denatures dietary proteins and helps activate pepsinogen to pepsin, increasing susceptibility to proteolysis.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the environment of the stomach where protein digestion begins, noting that it is highly acidic due to hydrochloric acid (HCl).
Recognize that HCl does not directly hydrolyze peptide bonds; instead, it creates an acidic environment that is crucial for protein digestion.
Learn that HCl denatures dietary proteins, meaning it unfolds their complex structures, making them more accessible to enzymatic action.
Know that HCl activates pepsinogen, an inactive enzyme precursor, by converting it into its active form, pepsin, which then catalyzes the breakdown of proteins into smaller peptides.
Conclude that the primary role of HCl in protein digestion is to denature proteins and activate pepsinogen, thereby facilitating efficient proteolysis.
Related Videos
Related Practice
