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Webster 1913 Edition


Zymogen

Zym′o-gen

,
Noun.
[
Zyme
+
-gen
.]
(Physiol. Chem.)
A mother substance, or antecedent, of an enzyme or chemical ferment; – applied to such substances as, not being themselves actual ferments, may by internal changes give rise to a ferment.
The pancreas contains but little ready-made ferment, though there is present in it a body,
zymogen
, which gives birth to the ferment.
Foster.

Definition 2024


zymogen

zymogen

English

Noun

zymogen (plural zymogens)

  1. (biochemistry) A proenzyme, or enzyme precursor, which requires a biochemical change (i.e. hydrolysis) to become an active form of the enzyme.