title: Changes in digestive enzymes through developmental and molt stages in the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus.
abstract: Changes in major digestive enzymes through developmental and molt stages were studied for the spiny lobster Panulirus argus. There were significant positive relationships between specific activity of trypsin and amylase enzymes and lobster size, whereas esterase and lipase specific activities decreased as lobsters aged. No relationship was found between amylase/trypsin ratio and lobster size. Positive trends were found, however, for trypsin/lipase and amylase/lipase ratios. Results suggest that changes in enzyme activity respond to the lobsters' physiological needs for particular dietary components although multivariate analysis suggested that enzyme activities could be not totally independent of diet. On the other hand, the pattern of changes of major enzyme activities through molt cycle was similar for most enzymes studied. Following molt, trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase, and lipase activities gradually increased to maximal levels at late intermolt (C4) and premolt (D). There were no variations in the electrophoretic pattern of digestive enzymes through developmental and molt stages and thus, it is demonstrated that regulation is exerted quantitatively rather than qualitatively. Further studies on the effect of other intrinsic and extrinsic factors on digestive enzyme activities are needed to fully understand digestive abilities and regulation mechanisms in spiny lobsters.
authors.affiliation: Center for Marine Research, University of Havana, Calle 16 No. 114 e/ 1ra y 3ra, Miramar, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba. erickpb@comuh.uh.cu
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Moyano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perdomo-Morales
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Montero-Alejo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Viera
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Galich
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D004063:Digestion; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D033521:Palinuridae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004950:Esterases; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases; D014357:Trypsin