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Biology 19 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Why will a decrease in pH of the stomach affect protein digestion?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Protein are digested by enzymes. Enzymes denature (ie. active site changes shape and cannot function anymore) when the pH is too low or too high. However, stomach protein digestion enzyme--pepsin--is a special one, because it works at very low pH (to be exact, pH 2) and it is at its optimum. So a decrease in pH will increase its optimal activity, thereby speeding up protein digestion. Does it help?

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