What does pepsin and peptidase do?

Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides in the acidic environment of the stomach. It is initially produced as an inactive precursor called pepsinogen, which is activated by stomach acid. Peptidases, on the other hand, are a group of enzymes that further digest peptides into amino acids in the small intestine. Together, pepsin and peptidases play crucial roles in protein digestion and nutrient absorption.