ZYMOGEN

proenzyme, zymogen

(noun) 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

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

zymogen (plural zymogens)

(biochemistry) A proenzyme, or enzyme precursor, which requires a biochemical change (i.e. hydrolysis) to become an active form of the enzyme.

Source: Wiktionary

Zym"o*gen, n. Etym: [Zyme + -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Definition: A mother substance, or antecedent, of an enzyme or chemical ferment; -- applied to such substances as, not being themselves actual ferments, may by internal changes give rise to a ferment. The pancreas contains but little ready-made ferment, though there is present in it a body, zymogen, which gives birth to the ferment. Foster.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition