Protein Degration

The mechanical breakdown of protein starts in the mouth. Proteins are chewed up. Chemical digestion of proteins begins in the stomach. HCl is secreted from pariental cells in the gastric pit. It denatures proteins. Cheif cells secrete pepsinogin. Pepsinogin is inactive until it reaches the stomach. Once activated, pepsin breaks the protien into smaller pieces. In the small intestine, chrymotrypsin and trypsin break the small peptide into smaller peptide. Carboxypeptidase breaks peptides into individual amino acids. THe amino acids enter he blood stream and travel to the liver for processing.