Utah Master Esthetician Practice Exam

Which of the following is an example of a proteolytic substance?

1. Mineral

2. Enzyme

3. Vitamin

4. Hormone

The correct answer is: Enzyme

A proteolytic substance is one that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids through enzymatic action. Enzymes are biological catalysts that facilitate biochemical reactions, including the digestion of proteins. Proteolytic enzymes, specifically, help in hydrolyzing the peptide bonds between amino acids, making them important in various biological processes, including digestion and cellular functions. While minerals, vitamins, and hormones play significant roles in the body, they do not have the defining action of breaking down proteins like proteolytic enzymes do. Minerals are essential nutrients that perform various structural and functional roles in the body, vitamins are organic compounds that support various biochemical processes, and hormones are signaling molecules that regulate physiological processes. None of these categories intrinsically provide the proteolytic function that distinguishes enzymes, particularly proteolytic enzymes.