Trypsin enzyme structure and function

                Trypsin: A protein digestive enzyme

Digestive enzymes are interesting because they break down certain types of molecules. Proteins are broken down by protease enzymes while carbohydrates are digested by carbohydrate enzymes. Each enzymes has a very unique structure that is suitable for its function. Enzymes like Trypsin have an active site where substrates are broken down into smaller amino acids. Protein digestion is very important for our body and Proteins are essential for life.

Trypsin is produced by the Pancreas. It is a protein digestive enzyme that works in optimum temperature. Trypsin helps the breakdown of large protein molecules into smaller amino acids. In the duodenum, Trypsin breaks down Proteins into Polypeptides because these type of digestion is necessary for the absorption because Proteins are too large to be absorbed by the lining of the small intestine.

Trypsin cleaves the peptide chains mainly the carboxyl side of the amino acid.

The above screenshot shows the structure of Trypsin. These types of Protein structures can be in Jolecule, a model visualizer. Trypsin has both Alpha-helix and Beta-pleated sheets. Trypsin is made up of all 20 amino acids, but the active side of the enzyme involves Glutamine and Valine. The active sites of Glutamine and Valine before and during the substrate is being catalysed is shown below.

The picture on the left shows the active site of Glutamine in the Trypsin Enzyme. The picture on the right shows the active site when it binds with the substrate which is represented by the red circle. During these process, dehydration synthesis occurs where water molecules are being released to break bonds. In these case, the oxygen of Glutamine binds with the substrate. The peptide bonds are broken down and the Oxygen comes from the carboxyl side of Glutamine.

The picture on the left shows the active site of Valine and the picture on the right shows the active site when it binds with the substrate. The process is similar to the ones related to Glutamine. The oxygen from the carboxyl side of Valine is being used and these is another side of the active site that does similar functions in breaking bonds that the Glutamine active site does. The process of breaking down protein into polypeptides are increased due to the sides of the active sites where different amino acids joins with the substrate for the final product.