So let's begin by defining and discussing Proteolytic Activation. Now a good quantity of the enzymes that are synthesized in living organisms, and this includes human beings, are synthesized in their inactive form and such inactive enzymes are known as zymogens or proenzymes. Now, under the proper environmental conditions, our zymogens, the inactive enzymes can be transformed permanently and irreversibly into their active form by a process known as proteolytic cleavage. So proteolytic cleavage simply means we have some other type of protein that cleaves bonds within that zymogen. So this process involves the hydrolysis of one or several peptide bonds within that Zymogen enzyme. Now Proteolytic cleavage doesn't necessarily require ATP, a source of energy, and that means that proteolytic cleavage can take place outside of the cell.