Molecular characterization of two trypsinogens in the orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides, and their expression in tissues during early development

In this study, we cloned two trypsinogens of the orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides, and analyzed their structure, expression, and activity. Full-length trypsinogen complementary (c)DNAs, named T1 and T2, were 900 and 875 nucleotides, and translated 242 and 244 deduced amino acid peptides, respectively. Both trypsinogens contained highly conserved residues essential for serine protease catalytic and conformational maintenance. Results from isoelectric and phylogenetic analyses suggested that both trypsinogens were grouped into trypsinogen group I. Both trypsinogens had similar expression patterns of negative relationship with body weight; expression was first detected at 1 day post-hatching (DPH) and exhibited steady-state expression during early development at 1–25 DPH. Both expression and activity levels significantly increased after 30 DPH due to metamorphosis. Grouper larval development is very slow with insignificant changes in total length and body weight before 8 DPH. The contribution of live food to an increase in the trypsin activity profile may explain their importance in food digestion and survival of larvae during early larval development.