Zymogens

Inactive enzyme precursors (e.g. chymotrypsinogen), which are converted into the active form by proteases, the enzyme itself (autocatalysis e.g. in trypsin) or chemical compounds (e.g. HCl in pepsinogen to pepsin). Zymogens are important, for example, in the processes of digestion, because if the enzyme were already active during transport to the actual site of action, it could possibly attack other enzymes or structural proteins of the body. Zymogens are important as precursors of the active coagulation enzymes, which themselves intervene cascadingly in the blood coagulation system, as well as in the complement system.