Comparative studies on proteolytic activity of splenic extract from three tuna species commonly used in thailand

Proteolytic activities of splenic extract from three tuna species including skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacores) and tongol tuna (Thunnus tonggol) were studied. Optimal activity of splenic extract from all tuna species was at pH 9.0 and 55C when casein was used as a substrate. Among all species tested, yellowfin tuna showed the highest activity, followed by skipjack tuna and tongol tuna. The proteolytic activity was strongly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor, TLCK and partially inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. E-64, N-ethylmaleimide, iodoacetic acid, TPCK and pepstatin A showed no inhibition. The effect of NaCl and CaCl2 on proteolytic activity was also investigated. Activities continuously decreased as NaCl concentration increased, and no activity remained in the presence of 30% NaCl. On the other hand, activities increased as CaCl2 concentration increased. The highest activity was obtained in the presence of 1 mM CaCl2. SDS-substrate gel electrophoresis revealed that major proteinases in splenic extract from different tuna species were different in apparent molecular weights and sensitivity to TLCK. Although them major activity bands of all species were strongly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor varying sensitivity to TLCK probably implied the differences in binding characteristic of enzyme to substrate and/or inhibitors. The results suggest that major proteinases in spleen of all tuna species were trypsin-like serine proteinases.