Noun: proenzyme prow'en,zIm
- Any of a group of compounds that are inactive precursors of enzymes and require some change (such as the hydrolysis of a fragment that masks an active enzyme) to become active
"Pepsinogen is a proenzyme that becomes active pepsin in the stomach";
- zymogen
Derived forms: proenzymes
Type of: organic compound
Encyclopedia: Proenzyme