该基因编码一种酶，将胰蛋白酶原转化为胰蛋白酶，胰蛋白酶激活其他原酶，包括胰凝乳蛋白酶原和前羧基肽酶前体蛋白被切割成两条链，形成由二硫键连接的异二聚体。这种蛋白质是胰蛋白酶家族肽酶的一员这种基因突变导致肠激酶缺乏症，一种以腹泻和发育不良为特征的吸收不良性疾病。

This gene encodes an enzyme that converts the pancreatic proenzyme trypsinogen to trypsin, which activates other proenzymes including chymotrypsinogen and procarboxypeptidases. The precursor protein is cleaved into two chains that form a heterodimer linked by a disulfide bond. This protein is a member of the trypsin family of peptidases. Mutations in this gene cause enterokinase deficiency, a malabsorption disorder characterized by diarrhea and failure to thrive.