NEET Biology Digestion And Absorption Based Practice Questions & Answers with Viewers Discussion and Detailed Explanation

Answer: (c)

The parietal or acid or oxyntic cells of gastric glands secrete HCl (hydrochloric acid). In the presence of HCl, pepsinogen (proenzyme) which is an inactive precursor of pepsin enzyme, gets converted to an active form, i.e., pepsin. The activated pepsin by autocatalysis activates more pepsinogen to pepsin. This pepsin enzyme is the principle protease or proteolytic enzyme of the stomach.

Pepsinogen (Inactive form) $→↖{HCl}$ Pepsin (Active form)

So, in the absence of HCl secretion, inactive pepsinogen is not converted into the active enzyme pepsin.