noun
- An enzyme produced by the small intestine that activates trypsinogen by converting it to trypsin; also called enteropeptidase.
Usage: biochemistry; also known as enteropeptidase
Examples
- Enterokinase is secreted by the duodenal mucosa to initiate protein digestion.
- The enzyme enterokinase plays a crucial role in activating pancreatic proteases.
- Without enterokinase, trypsinogen would remain inactive in the small intestine.
- Enterokinase deficiency can lead to impaired protein digestion and absorption.
- The discovery of enterokinase helped scientists understand the cascade of digestive enzyme activation.