Answer :
Final answer:
A deficiency in the pancreatic trypsin inhibitor can lead to the premature activation of enzymes, resulting in self-digestion of the pancreas. To prevent this, the body synthesizes inactive forms of enzymes and expresses a trypsin inhibitor. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are activated in the small intestine to avoid self-digestion.
Explanation:
The potential consequence of a deficiency in the pancreatic trypsin inhibitor can lead to the activation of pancreatic enzymes prematurely within the pancreas itself, causing self-digestion and damage to the pancreas or small intestine. This scenario can result in a condition like pancreatitis, where the pancreas is consumed by its own enzymes.
The body employs mechanisms such as synthesizing zymogens or proenzymes and expressing a pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) to prevent the premature activation of proteases within the pancreas.
Trypsin and chymotrypsin are initially produced in their inactive forms (zymogens) by the pancreas and then activated in the small intestine through specific enzymatic processes to avoid self-digestion of pancreatic tissue.