Gastric acid network (called canaliculi) from which the hydrochloric acid is secreted into the lumen of the stomach. The pH of gastric acid is 1.5 to 3.5 in the human stomach lumen, the acidity being maintained by the proton pump H/K ATPase. The parietal cell releases bicarbonate into the bloodstream in the process, which causes a temporary rise of pH in the blood, known as an alkaline tide. The highly acidic environment in the stomach lumen causes proteins from food to lose their characteristic folded structure (or denature). This exposes the protein's peptide bonds. The gastric chief cells of the stomach secrete
Gentisic acid Gentisic acid Gentisic acid is a dihydroxybenzoic acid. It is a derivative of benzoic acid and a minor (1%) product of the metabolic break down of aspirin, excreted by the kidneys. It is also found in the African tree "Alchornea cordifolia" and in wine. Gentisic acid is produced by carboxylation of hydroquinone. This conversion is an example of a Kolbe–Schmitt reaction. Alternatively the compound can be synthesized from salicylic acid via Elbs persulfate oxidation. In the presence of the enzyme gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase, gentisic acid reacts with oxygen to give maleylpyruvate: As a hydroquinone, gentisic acid is readily oxidised and is