chymotrypsin

American  

[kahy-moh-trip-sin] / ˌkaɪ moʊˈtrɪp sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a proteolytic enzyme, found in pancreatic juice, that catalyzes the hydrolysis of proteins into polypeptides and amino acids.

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chymotrypsin British  

/ ˌkaɪməʊˈtrɪpsɪn /

noun

1. a powerful proteolytic enzyme secreted from the pancreas in the form of chymotrypsinogen, being converted to the active form by trypsin

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Other Word Forms

• chymotryptic adjective

Etymology

Origin of chymotrypsin

First recorded in 1930–35; chyme + -o- + trypsin

Compare meaning

How does chymotrypsin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chymotrypsin vs. trypsin

Example Sentences

Tom worked with David Blow on interactions of the enzyme chymotrypsin with its substrates, and Joan with Francis Crick, Sydney Brenner and Mark Bretscher on messenger RNA.

From Nature • Oct. 29, 2018

Enterokinase, an enzyme located in the wall of the small intestine, activates trypsin, which in turn activates chymotrypsin.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Chemical digestion in the small intestine is continued by pancreatic enzymes, including chymotrypsin and trypsin, each of which act on specific bonds in amino acid sequences.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

As they investigated subtilisin's complex structure, the scientists realized that it had a curious similarity to another enzyme, chymotrypsin, common to all vertebrates, including man.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the presence of cancers, West found, the chymotrypsin inhibitor is greatly multiplied.

From Time Magazine Archive