Elastase is a serine protease that also hydrolyzes amides and esters. It is produced in the pancreas as an inactive zymogen, and activated in the duodenum by trypsin. The following information applies to porcine elastase.n adsorption complex between elastase and its substrate is formed, followed by nucleophilic attack (S214) to form an acyl-enzyme intermediate, and release of the first product (the C-terminal end of the substrate).