Pepsinogen C/PGC Proteins and Enzymes

Pepsinogen C (progastricsin) is an aspartic proteinase zymogen that belongs to the peptidase family A1. Pespsin C, the activated protease, is a digestive enzyme that is produced in the stomach and constitutes a major component of the gastric mucosa. This protein is synthesized as an inactive zymogen that is converted into its active mature form at low pH by sequential cleavage of the prosegment in an autocatalytic process. Polymorphisms in this gene are associated with susceptibility to gastric cancers. Serum levels of this enzyme are used as a biomarker for certain gastric diseases including Helicobacter pylori related gastritis.