noun
- inactive enzyme precursors that are converted to active enzymes when needed
Usage: biochemistry; plural form
Examples
- Digestive proenzymes are stored in the pancreas until they are activated in the small intestine.
- The conversion of proenzymes to active enzymes helps regulate metabolic processes.
- Many proenzymes require specific conditions or cofactors for activation.
- Blood clotting involves a cascade of proenzymes being converted to active forms.
- Pepsinogen is one of the most well-known proenzymes in human digestion.
- Scientists study proenzymes to understand how enzyme activity is controlled in cells.