proenzyme

Term: proenzyme

Literally meaning: “before enzyme”

Origin: Anc Greek

>προ-/pro-(= towards, in front of, before, forward)

+ένζυμο/enzymo(=enzyme) > εν/en(=in) +-ζύμη/zyme(= leaven, ferment )

Coined/History

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Definition

A proenzyme (or zymogen) is an inactivate form of an enzyme (enzyme precursor) which requires a biochemical change in order to become active.