A proenzyme or zymogen formed and secreted by the chief cells of the gastric mucosa; the acidity of the gastric juice and pepsin itself remove 44 amino acyl residues from p. to form active pepsin. SYN: propepsin. [pepsin + G. -gen, producing]
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pep·sin·o·gen pep-'sin-ə-jən n a granular zymogen of the gastric glands that is readily converted into pepsin in a slightly acid medium
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n.
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pep·sin·o·gen (pep-sinґə-jən) a proenzyme secreted by chief cells, mucous neck cells, and pyloric gland cells, which is converted into pepsin in the presence of gastric acid or of pepsin itself.Medical dictionary. 2011.