Question

what will happen to protein digestion as the medium of intestine is gradually rendered alkaline?

Answer 1

 


The protein digestion in our digestive system takes place either in acidic or basic medium depending on the type of protease enzyme.
The acidic or basic medium is only needed for the activation of the protein digesting enzymes. Like pepsinogen produced in stomach is activated into pepsin only in acidic medium while the trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen present in pancreatic juice get activated in alkaline medium of small intestines. Thus, protein digestion will continue in small intestines even, if medium is changed to alkaline.