zymogen
Dormant enzyme form
A zymogen is an inactive precursor to an enzyme, requiring a chemical change before it can catalyze reactions.
Pepsinogen, for instance, becomes the digestive enzyme pepsin only when activated by stomach acid.
The body produces zymogens as a safety mechanism—storing powerful enzymes in harmless form until they're needed at the right place and time.
Inactive digestive enzyme precursor
- chymotrypsinogenInactive pancreatic enzyme precursor
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- conversionAct of changing states
proteolysis · thrombin · prothrombin · fibrinogen · coagulation · maturation · processing · active site
Inactive digestive enzyme precursor
- chymotrypsinogenInactive pancreatic enzyme precursor
- pancreasDual-function abdominal gland
- gastricOf the stomach
- pepsinGastric protein-cleaving enzyme
trypsin · proteases · digestion · duodenum · pancreatic juice · stomach lining · digestive enzymes
Thrombin's inactive precursor
- fibrinogenPlasma protein for coagulation
- thrombinSerine protease enabling coagulation
- fibrinClot-forming protein
- clotting factorsProteins enabling blood coagulation
hemostasis · blood clotting · vitamin K · anticoagulant · thrombosis
Vesicular release from cells
- secretionSubstance released by glands
- endoplasmic reticulumCytoplasmic membrane network for synthesis
- vesiclesSmall enclosed sacs
- parotidCheek-area saliva gland
pepsinogen
Inactive digestive enzyme precursor
- chymotrypsinogenInactive pancreatic enzyme precursor
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
conversion · proteolysis · thrombin · prothrombin · fibrinogen · coagulation · maturation · processing · active site · signal peptide
pepsinogen
Inactive digestive enzyme precursor
- chymotrypsinogenInactive pancreatic enzyme precursor
- pancreasDual-function abdominal gland
- gastricOf the stomach
pepsin · trypsin · proteases · digestion · duodenum · pancreatic juice · stomach lining · digestive enzymes
prothrombin
Thrombin's inactive precursor
- fibrinogenPlasma protein for coagulation
- thrombinSerine protease enabling coagulation
- fibrinClot-forming protein
clotting factors · hemostasis · blood clotting · vitamin K · anticoagulant · thrombosis
exocytosis
Vesicular release from cells
- secretionSubstance released by glands
- endoplasmic reticulumCytoplasmic membrane network for synthesis
- vesiclesSmall enclosed sacs
electrophoresis
Field-driven particle separation