Protease is best described as an enzyme that

Protease is best described as an enzyme that

• A. Breaks down carbohydrates into glucose
• B. Breaks down proteins into amino acids
• C. Synthesizes proteins
• D. Breaks down fats into fatty acids

Answer: (B)

Proteases are enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds in proteins, breaking them down into smaller peptides and amino acids. This specificity for proteins and for cleaving peptide bonds is what defines a protease, and it’s essential for digestion and protein turnover in the body. That’s why the option describing breaking down proteins into amino acids is the best fit. It matches the fundamental action of proteases. The other ideas don’t fit because they describe enzymes that act on other macromolecules or that assemble rather than break down proteins: breaking down carbohydrates requires carbohydrases like amylase; breaking down fats requires lipases; synthesizing proteins is a cellular fabrication process not performed by proteases.

Proteases are enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds in proteins, breaking them down into smaller peptides and amino acids. This specificity for proteins and for cleaving peptide bonds is what defines a protease, and it’s essential for digestion and protein turnover in the body.

That’s why the option describing breaking down proteins into amino acids is the best fit. It matches the fundamental action of proteases.

The other ideas don’t fit because they describe enzymes that act on other macromolecules or that assemble rather than break down proteins: breaking down carbohydrates requires carbohydrases like amylase; breaking down fats requires lipases; synthesizing proteins is a cellular fabrication process not performed by proteases.