Pancreatic Digestive Enzymes
  • the pancreas secretes a large number of enzymes that collectively have the
    capacity to reduce virtually all digestible macromolecules into forms that are capable
    of, or nearly capable of being absorbed.

  • major ones secreted as inactive precursors (zymogens) to prevent autodigestion and need to be activated.

Enzyme
Zymogen
Activator
Trypsin Trypsinogen Enterokinase
Chymotrypsin Chymotrypsinogen Trypsin
Elastase Proelastase Trypsin
Carboxypeptidase Procarboxypeptidase Trypsin
Phospholipase Prophospholipase Trypsin
Lipase None None
Amylase None None
Cholesterolesterase None None
Ribonuclease None None
Deoxyribonuclease None None