Zymogen
/ˈzaɪ.mə.dʒən/noun
An inactive precursor that is converted into an active enzyme, usually through a biochemical reaction.
Did you know?Digestive enzymes such as pepsin and trypsin are produced as zymogens, preventing them from digesting the cells and organs that manufacture them.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yeǵ-
“To ferment or become sour; the deeper ancestral root associated with fermentation.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ζύμη (zymē)
“Leaven, yeast, or ferment—the active substance that causes fermentation.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-γενής (-genēs)
“Born from, produced by, or generating.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
zymogen
“A substance thought to produce or give rise to fermentation; later used for an inactive enzyme precursor.”
1870s
English
zymogen
“An inactive enzyme-forming substance or enzyme precursor.”
Modern English
English
zymogen
“An inactive form of an enzyme that becomes active under specific conditions.”