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.

---

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

---

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

See Examples For:

chymotrypsin

Trypsin elastase, carboxypeptidase, and chymotrypsin are produced by the pancreas and released into the duodenum where they act on the chyme.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

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

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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