Which pancreatic enzyme is involved in protein digestion?

Trypsin is a critical enzyme in the process of protein digestion. It is produced in the pancreas as an inactive precursor known as trypsinogen. Once trypsinogen is secreted into the small intestine, it is activated by the enzyme enterokinase (also known as enteropeptidase) into its active form, trypsin.

Trypsin plays an essential role in breaking down proteins into smaller peptides by cleaving specific peptide bonds. This activity is crucial for the overall digestion and absorption of dietary proteins in the gastrointestinal tract. The effective functioning of trypsin and other proteolytic enzymes ensures that proteins are reduced to their constituent amino acids, which can then be absorbed through the intestinal lining.

The other options, while all related to digestion, serve different purposes. Amylase is primarily responsible for carbohydrate digestion, lipase is involved in the digestion of fats, and pepsin, although it does digest proteins, is secreted by the stomach and not the pancreas. Thus, in the context of pancreatic enzymes specifically involved in protein digestion, trypsin stands out as the correct answer.