Papain is a cystein protease isolated from papaya plants Why

Papain is a cystein protease isolated from papaya plants. Why is it good at tenderizing meat?

Solution

Papain is an andolytic cystein protease widely used in meat tenderizers. In the Meat tissue the cells are held by collagen matrix. Papain cleaves the collagen crosslinks in the extracellular matrix of the meat and hence tenderizes the meat.