Question

Why our digestive enzymes inactive form in the body when we can require their actions anytime?

Answer 1

Proteolytic enzymes released by the stomach and pancreas are stored and secreted in an inactive form. They become active through cleavage by enzymes co-released with these enzyme as well as transformations due to environmental pH specific to the stomach and duodenum. These conditions act as a safety mechanism to prevent these proteolytic enzymes from digesting the tissues that form, store, and secrete them. Keep in mind that the food we eat is very similar in molecular structure to our own tissue. So, the enzymes we form to digest these molecules have the potential to digest our own body. Secreting inactive enzymes into a digestive chambers coated with protective mucus allow us to digest our food without digesting ourselves.