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Ovostatin, an endogenous trypsin inhibitor of sea urchin eggs: purification and characterization of ovostatin from eggs of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus intermedius.

A trypsin inhibitor, termed ovostatin, has been purified approximately 265-fold with 82% yield, from unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius, using trypsin coupled Sepharose 4B as an affinity column for chromatography. The isolated ovostatin is homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the estimated molecular weight being 20K-21.5K. Ovostatin inhibits preferentially trypsin-like endogenous protease purified from the eggs of the same species and bovine pancreatic trypsin and also bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin. Values of IC50 (amount causing 50% inhibition of enzymes) for trypsin-like protease purified from eggs of the same species, bovine pancreatic trypsin, and bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin, are 0.91 +/- 0.13 micrograms/ml (4.55 +/- 0.65 x 10(-8)M), 3.0 +/- 0.28 microgram/ml (1.5 +/- 0.14 x 10(-7)M), and 4.8 +/- 0.2 microgram/ml (2.4 +/- 0.1 x 10(-7)M), respectively, in the experimental condition used. Kinetic studies indicate that ovostatin is a noncompetitive inhibitor of trypsin. The inhibitor is relatively heat labile. NaCl (0.025-0.01 M) enhances the inhibitor activity, whereas KCl is inhibitory. Ovostatin requires a low concentration of Ca2+ for activity. The activity is higher in unfertilized eggs than in fertilized eggs; total activity and specific activity in unfertilized eggs is about 1.67-fold and 1.85-fold higher than those in fertilized eggs, respectively. We believe that ovostatin may regulate the function of the cortical granule protease and other trypsin-like proteases that are activated in sea urchin eggs during fertilization.

Animals↗

Constitutive and blood meal-induced trypsin genes in Anopheles gambiae.

Trypsin genes in Anopheles gambiae are arranged as a tightly clustered gene family consisting of seven related coding sequences, devoid of introns. The two blood meal-inducible members of this family, Antryp1 and Antryp2, were shown to play a crucial role in the breakdown of the blood meal constituents. The role of Antryp3,4,5,6, and Antryp7 in the process of blood meal digestion remains to be elucidated. We have examined the localization and the expression patterns of these trypsins as well as the functional interactions in blood meal digestion between trypsins and other gut-specific proteases. Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the genes Antryp3,4,5,6, and Antryp7 are all constitutively expressed in unfed female mosquitoes. Soon after blood feeding the mRNA of these trypsin genes became undetectable and appeared again at the end of the gonotrophic cycle. The blood meal-inducible trypsin Antryp1 was also constitutively expressed at low level in the gut of adult female mosquitoes. This trypsin was the only member of this gene family to be expressed in the gut of male and female pupae. By using antisera that specifically recognized recombinant Antryp4 we were able to show that the corresponding protein in Anopheles is synthesized and stored in the gut epithelium of unfed females as zymogen. Secretion and activation of this trypsin was shown to occur in the midgut lumen immediately after fluid ingestion and independently of the protein content of the meal. Recombinant trypsins expressed in Escherichia coli, with the exception of Antryp5 and Antryp6, were able to activate in vitro recombinant A. gambiae chymotrypsinogen, thus suggesting that blood meal ingestion is able to trigger a cascade of events leading to the activation of several proteases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structures of rat anionic trypsin complexed with the protein inhibitors APPI and BPTI.

The crystal structure of rat anionic trypsin D189G/G226D has been determined in complexes with each of the protein inhibitors APPI (amyloid beta-protein precursor inhibitor domain) and BPTI (bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor) at resolutions of 2.5 A and 2.1 A, respectively. Comparisons with the structure of the bovine trypsin-BPTI complex show that the enzyme-inhibitor interactions in rat trypsin are dominated to a much greater degree by attractive and repulsive electrostatic forces. Decreased structural complementarity in the flanking regions of the interface formed with BPTI is reflected in significantly weaker inhibition relative to bovine trypsin. The primary active site loop of BPTI adopts slightly different conformations when bound to rat and cow trypsins, reflecting a broader entrance to the binding pocket in the former. Tight complementarity of each loop conformer to the respective active sites then gives rise to significantly different overall orientations of the inhibitor when bound to the two enzymes. The crystal structures of trypsin bound to these protein inhibitors are excellent models of the Michaelis complexes, which permit visualization of substrate interactions both N and C-terminal to the cleaved bond, while maintaining identical reaction chemistry. They will be uniquely useful to the structure-function analysis of variant rat trypsin enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Urinary trypsin levels observed in pancreas transplant patients with duodenocystostomies promote in vitro fibrinolysis and in vivo bacterial adherence to urothelial surfaces.

This study evaluated the role of activated urinary trypsin in mediating the increased incidence of infectious and hemorrhagic lower urinary tract complications in pancreas transplant patients with pancreatico-duodenocystostomies (PDC). The effect of trypsin concentrations corresponding to those observed in the urine of PDC patients were studied using an in vitro assay of clot lysis and an in vivo assay of bacterial-urinary tract adherence. Results were compared with those of parallel assays performed using urine from a pancreas transplant patient with a duodenocystostomy and control human urine. All trypsin concentrations studied demonstrated fibrinolytic activity. Fibrinolysis increased as a direct function of both trypsin concentration and duration of substrate exposure (P < 0.0001). Fibrin lysis resulting from the urine of the transplant patient was 4.6 times greater than that predicted based upon assays of total trypsin content in the sample. Fibrinolytic activity in control urine specimens was 0.16% of that observed in transplant urine specimens. Exposure of the rat urinary bladder to 200 micrograms/ml trypsin concentrations, or transplant urine, resulted in a significant increase in bacterial adherence over that seen in control urine from treated animals (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate a significant effect of urinary trypsin on physiologic processes involved in hemostasis and the prevention of urinary tract infection. Active urinary trypsin may play an etiologic role in hemorrhagic and infectious lower urinary tract complications observed in patients with a PDC.

Animals↗

Transport and metabolism of glucose by dissociated brain cells: effects of trypsin.

A study was carried out to determine the effect of trypsin on glucose transport into brain cells. Two suspensions of dissociated cells were prepared from the two brain hemispheres of adult rats--one using only mechanical means to dissociate the cells and one using trypsin. The use of trypsin for preparation of dissociated brain cells caused a marked reduction in the rate of transport of [1,2-3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose compared to uptakes of this glucose analog by cells prepared without trypsin. Responses of the two cell preparations to inhibitors of glucose transport (cytochalasin B and phloretin) were similar. Rates of oxidation of [6-14C]glucose to 14CO2 by trypsin-treated cells were nearly double those in cells prepared without trypsin. Electron microscopic examination of the two preparations revealed much less preservation of structural integrity if trypsin was used to prepare the cells. The findings suggest that trypsin alters cell structure and affects receptor-regulated events in brain cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Dissociation of serum kinetics of amylase and trypsin following stimulation with secretin and pancreozymin].

The diagnostic value of basal serum trypsin and amylase values in the assessment of pancreatic exocrine function is limited. Secretin injection evokes a significantly different response in the serum kinetics of trypsin and amylase, due probably to their difference in molecular weight (21,000 vs 52,000 Daltons). Serum trypsin increases in 70% of people with normal secretin-pancreozymin test after stimulation with secretin, whereas amylase remains unchanged. The post-stimulatory rise in trypsin is lower in mild exocrine insufficiency and almost completely abolished in severe exocrine insufficiency. The diagnosis of severe exocrine insufficiency is confirmed in 93% and that of mild insufficiency in 54% by low basal and post-stimulatory levels of serum trypsin. In diabetics with low basal values the post-stimulatory rise in serum trypsin confirmed normal pancreatic function. The poststimulatory kinetics of serum amylase shows no clear correlation to pancreatic function. From the divergent serum kinetics of trypsin and amylase it may be concluded that trypsin is primarily of ductular and amylase primarily of acinar origin.

Adult↗

Comparison of cytologic and biochemical properties between liver cells isolated from adult rats by trypsin perfusion and those isolated by collagenase perfusion.

Primary cultures of liver cells isolated from adult rats by trypsin and collagenase perfusion techniques were carried out to compare cytologic and biochemical properties between the differently prepared cells. Trypsin-dispersed cells consisted of comparatively smaller cells, whereas collagenase-dispersed cells consisted of larger cells. The cell attachment efficiency on culture day 1 was about twice as high in the liver cells prepared with collagenase than those prepared with trypsin. Mature hepatocytes isolated by collagenase perfusion could be maintained in the primary culture for a longer period than those isolated by trypsin perfusion. Epithelial-like clear cells started to grow much earlier in the primary culture of the trypsin-dispersed liver cells than in that of the collagenase-dispersed liver cells. Earlier proliferation of epithelial-like clear cells could not be induced by in vitro trypsinization of the collagenase-dispersed liver cells. Both kinds of enzymatically prepared liver cells showed albumin production and exhibited glucose 6-phosphatase (D-glucose-6-phosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.9, G6Pase) and tyrosine aminotransferase (L-tyrosine: 2-oxoglutarate amino-transferase, EC 2.6.1.5, TAT) activities for 1 week in the primary culture. Albumin production was higher in the liver cells prepared with collagenase than those prepared with trypsin, whereas G6Pase activity was almost the same between them. TAT activity up to culture day 2 was about 3-fold higher in the liver cells prepared with collagenase than in those prepared with trypsin. Combined supplementation of dexamethasone (1 X 10(-5)M) and insulin (10 micrograms/ml) consistently improved the cell attachment efficiency and was very effective in the maintenance of mature hepatocytes in both types. Furthermore, these hormones enhanced the albumin production and TAT activity in both types.

Albumins↗

Structural diversity of trypsin from different mosquito species feeding on vertebrate blood.

Mosquito trypsin was purified using a combination of ion exchange and affinity chromatography with the ligand soybean trypsin inhibitor. Three Aedes and three Anopheles species were tested, all of which are specialized in the digestion of vertebrate blood. Amino-terminal sequences of HPLC-purified trypsins from Aedes aegypti and Anopheles quadrimaculatus revealed homologies of 30-40% with vertebrate and other invertebrate proteases previously identified as serine-proteases. The purified mosquito trypsins have molecular masses between 25 kDa and 36 kDa, as determined by denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoresis, and are heterogeneous in size and number in the various species. The number of SDS-bands varies between 3 and 6 in Aedes and between 1 and 3 in Anopheles. The specific activities, determined with the substrate TAME, range from 240 U/mg in Aedes aegypti to 1065 U/mg in Anopheles quadrimaculatus. All mosquito trypsins tested have acidic isoelectric points between pH 3.5 and pH 5.4. No alkaline proteases were detected. Polyclonal antisera against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus trypsin do not cross-react with bovine trypsin. Cross-reactivity of the two sera with trypsin from six mosquito species suggests the presence of at least 2 enzyme families.

Aedes↗

Inhibition of trypsin-induced mast cell activation by water fraction of Lonicera japonica.

Lonicera japonica Thunb.(Caprifoliaceae) has long been known as an anti-inflammatory. In the present study, the effect of water fraction of Lonicera japonica (LJ) on trypsin-induced mast cell activation was examined. HMC-1 cells were stimulated with trypsin (100 nM) in the presence or absence of LJ (10, 100, and 1000 microg/mL). TNF-alpha and tryptase production were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-PCR. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was assessed by Western blot. Trypsin activity was measured by using Bz-DL-Arg-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) as substrate. LJ (10, 100, and 1000 microg/mL) inhibited TNF-alpha secretion in a dose-dependent manner. LJ (10, 100, and 1000 microg/mL) also inhibited TNF-alpha and tryptase mRNA expression in trypsin-stimulated HMC-1. Furthermore, LJ inhibited trypsin-induced ERK phosphorylation. However, LJ did not affect the trypsin activity even 1000 microg/mL. These results indicate that LJ may inhibit trypsin-induced mast cell activation through the inhibition of ERK phosphorylation than the inhibition of trypsin activity.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

Persistent activation of platelet membrane phospholipase C by proteolytic action of trypsin and thrombin.

Trypsin causes rapid activation of intact platelets that mimics many actions of thrombin, including the stimulation of phospholipase C (PLC). We have examined the effects of thrombin and trypsin on PLC in a platelet membrane preparation using exogenous [3H]-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) as substrate. Trypsin induced PIP2 breakdown, which was maximal at 20 micrograms/ml, but was reduced at higher concentrations. alpha- and gamma-Thrombins also stimulated PLC-induced hydrolysis of PIP2 in membranes. This effect was inhibited by leupeptin. Exogenous [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PIP) was hydrolyzed in response to both thrombin and trypsin in the same ratio as PIP2. Activation of membrane-bound PLC persisted after removal of thrombin and trypsin. The hydrolysis of [3H]phosphatidylinositol was not activated by alpha-thrombin and trypsin. We examined the question of whether calpain was involved in the observed PLC activation by thrombin and trypsin. Although dibucaine activated a Ca2(+)-dependent protease as judged by the hydrolysis of actin-binding protein and by the activation of phosphoprotein phosphatases, it failed to stimulate the generation of phosphatidic acid in 32P-prelabeled platelets. Moreover, when PLC was assayed in the membranes, the addition of Ca2(+)-activated neutral proteinases did not increase the rate of hydrolysis of either PIP or PIP2. Our results show that proteases such as trypsin and thrombin are able to stimulate membrane-bound PLC, but this activation does not seem to be related to calpain.

Blood Platelets↗

Studies on the nature of the inhibitory effect of trypsin on the photosynthetic electron transport of system II in spinach chloroplasts.

The effect of trypsin on the photosynthetic electron transport of spinach chloroplasts has been investigated by measurements of the flash-induced absorption changes, indicating chlorophyll a1 at 703 nm, chlorophyll aII at 690 nm and at 515 nm via electrochromism the electrical potential gradient across the thylakoid membrane, respectively, and of the fluorescence induction caused by moderate actinic light. It was found: (1) In the presence of benzyl viologen as electron acceptor and with water as natural electron donor trypsin, incubation leads to a complete suppression of the absorption changes of the electrochromic effect and of chlorophyll aI and chlorophyll aII. (2) Addition of System I electron donors (N-methylphenazonium sulfate plus ascorbate or 2,6-dichlorophenolindphenol plus ascorbate) fully restores the chlorophyll aI photoreaction, whereas the initial amplitude of the electrochromic absorption change at 515 nm amounts about 50% of the control value without trypsin. The chlorophyll aII inhibition remains uneffected by System I electron donors. (3) System II electron donors (benzohydroquinone plus ascorbate or TPB) are unable to overcome the inhibition of electron transport by trypsin. (4) The fluorescence induction curve in 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl-urea-blocked chloroplasts is modified by trypsin. The level of maximal fluorescence is remarkably decreased, whereas the initial fluorescence remains constant. The rise in kinetics is slightly decelerated. From these results, it is concluded that in the linear electron transport from water to benzyl viologen, mild trypsin treatment specifically attacks System II at a site very close to the reaction center, either on the oxidizing or on the reducing side. The reaction center of System II itself is relatively stable against trypsin. Arguments are presented which argue in favor of the trypsin attack being primarily directed at the reducing side of System II.

2,6-Dichloroindophenol↗

Influence of trypsin on lipolysis in human fat cells. Comparison with rat adipocytes.

1. Trypsin-treated human and rat fat cells were obtained by digestion of adipose tissue with collagenase plus trypsin and their lipolytic response to insulin, catecholamines and dibutyryl cyclic AMP were compared with the lipolytic response of human and rat fat cells isolated with collagenase only. 2. In both human and rat fat cells, no significant modification occurred in the intracellular lactate dehydrogenase content and in the basal release of glycerol after trypsination. 3. In rat fat cells, trypsin abolished the antilipolytic effect of insulin but maintained a normal lipolytic response to epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol. 4. In human fat cells, on the contrary, trypsin failed to modify the antilipolytic effect of insulin, but markedly potentiated the lipolytic response to epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol. Trypsin also increased the rate of intracellular 3' :5' cyclic AMP accumulation in response to catecholamines. Under these conditions, however, trypsin-treated human fat cells had a normal reponse to the lipolytic agent dibutyryl cyclin AMP. 5. These data suggest that human fat cells differ from the rat ones by the existence in human adipocyte membranes of a trypsin-sensitive component which inhibits the catecholamine induced lipolytic process and which is different from the alpha receptors.

Adipose Tissue↗

Secondary structure and thermal behavior of trypsin-treated low-density lipoproteins from human serum, studied by circular dichroism.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were prepared from the serum of normolipidemic men on normal diets with or without supplemental beta-carotene. LDL were subjected to limited hydrolysis (5 h at 37 degrees C) with trypsin (enzyme:protein, 1:40 w/w), and their digested products separated by gel filtration. The trypsin-treated LDL contained about 80% of the original protein and essentially all of the original lipids of native LDL. The circular dichroic spectrum of trypsin-treated LDL below 240 nm resembled that of native LDL, except that the magnitudes of the ellipticity were smaller, corresponding to 25 and 33% helical content, respectively. The lower content of helix in trypsin-treated LDL suggests that certain helical regions in apolipoprotein B are sensitive to tryptic attack; however, a major portion of the helical structure of the apolipoprotein is resistant. The thermal stability of helix in trypsin-treated LDL resembled that of native LDL, suggesting that removal of the trypsin-accessible regions of the apolipoprotein has little or no effect on the forces stabilizing the remaining helices. Data on the induced circular dichroism of beta-carotene, an intrinsic probe of the neutral lipid core, showed a reduced transition temperature for cholesteryl esters after trypsin treatment. This finding suggests that the trypsin-accessible regions of apolipoprotein B may influence the fluidity of the core.

Adult↗

Mass spectrometry and characterization of Aedes aegypti trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF) and its analogs.

Trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF), a decapeptide that directly inhibits the biosynthesis of trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like enzymes in epithelial cells of mosquito midgut and indirectly inhibits vitellogenesis in anautogenous females, has been sequenced by Fourier transform mass spectrometry analysis. The peptide has a primary amino acid sequence of NH2-Tyr-Asp-Pro-Ala-(Pro)6-COOH and probably exhibits left-handed helical conformation as was shown by computer stereoview simulation. The factor is metabolized very rapidly (half-life of 1.6 h) in intact mosquitoes when injected after the blood meal. Inhibition of trypsin biosynthesis was followed in ligated abdomens, which synthesize trypsin but do not metabolise TMOF. At concentrations of 3 x 10(-9) M and 6.8 x 10(-6) M, TMOF inhibited 50 and 90% of trypsin-like enzyme biosynthesis, respectively. Several analogs of varying chain lengths were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity using dose-response curves. Switching the positions of Tyr and Asp at the N-terminus reduced the activity of the hormone, indicating that the N-terminus is important for biological activity. Removal of two to five prolines at the C-terminus also reduced activity, indicating that both the N- and C-termini are important. Synthesis of trypsin-like isozyme was followed in several insect species using [1,3-3H]diisopropyl-fluorophosphate (DFP) in the presence of tosylamide-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone. Marked reduction of [1,3-3H]diisopropyl-phosphoryl-trypsin-like derivatives was noted after TMOF treatment, as assessed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These results indicate that the biosynthesis of trypsin-like enzyme in mosquitoes and other insects may be regulated by sequence-related TMOFs.

Aedes↗

Molecular cloning and sequencing of trypsin cDNAs from Penaeus vannamei (Crustacea, Decapoda): use in assessing gene expression during the moult cycle.

Trypsin is the most abundant protease in Crustacea. This enzyme was purified from the digestive gland of Penaeus vannamei, revealing three major isoforms (molecular weights 31-32 kDa) and several minor components. Five cDNAs encoding five isoforms of trypsin were detected by two successive screenings of an amplified cDNA library from the digestive gland of P. vannamei. The longest isolated and sequenced cDNA encoded a preproenzyme of 255 amino acids containing a putative precursor peptide of 14 residues and a highly hydrophobic signal sequence of 14 amino acids. Amino acid sequence alignments revealed a high degree of identity between the trypsin from P. vannamei and that from crayfish (74%) and an equal level of sequence similarity to that from mammals and insects (approximately 40). Dot blot hybridization and subsequent analysis of the variation in trypsin-specific activities revealed that mRNA expression is at a maximum during early premoult (D1), declining sharply in late premoult (D2-D3). The specific activity of trypsin also followed this pattern, suggesting the regulation of trypsin biosynthesis is, at least in part, transcriptional. The characterization of trypsin cDNA from P. vannamei provides the first description of a putative zymogen sequence in a crustacean species, enabling us to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of trypsin synthesis in these important marine organisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and properties of proteinaceous trypsin inhibitors in the skin mucus of pufferfish Takifugu pardalis.

A screening assay for inhibitory activity against trypsin in skin mucus from 29 species of fishes reveals a wide distribution of trypsin inhibitors in skin mucus and relatively high antitryptic activity in pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae. Two trypsin inhibitors termed TPTI 1 and 2 were purified to homogeneity from the skin mucus of Takifugu pardalis by salting out, lectin affinity, anion exchange FPLC and gel filtration HPLC. Both inhibitors are acidic glycoproteins, with an apparent molecular mass of 57 kDa in SDS-PAGE, pI below 4 and 1.9% reducing sugar for TPTI 1 and with an apparent molecular mass of 47 kDa in SDS-PAGE, pI 5.2 and 0.8% reducing sugar for TPTI 2. The inhibitors effectively repress the catalytic activity of trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin, and therefore can be classified as serine protease inhibitors. The inhibitory constants against trypsin were 4.9x10(-8) M for TPTI 1 and 3.9x10(-8) M for TPTI 2. Both inhibitors react with trypsin at a molar ratio of 1:1, although TPTI 1 reversibly inactivates the proteolytic activity of trypsin non-competitively and TPTI 2, competitively. The trypsin inhibitors in the skin mucus of T. pardalis may function as defense substances to neutralize serine proteases released by invasive pathogens.

Amino Acids↗

Expression of a cold-adapted fish trypsin in Pichia pastoris.

Trypsin is a highly valuable protease that has many industrial and biomedical applications. The growing demand for non-animal sources of the enzyme and for trypsins with special properties has driven the interest to clone and express this protease in microorganisms. Reports about expression of recombinant trypsins show wide differences in the degree of success and are contained mainly in patent applications, which disregard the difficulties associated with the developments. Although the yeast Pichia pastoris appears to be the microbial host with the greatest potential for the production of trypsin, it has shown problems when expressing cold-adapted fish trypsins (CAFTs). CAFTs are considered of immense value for their comparative advantage over other trypsins in a number of food-processing and biotechnological applications. Thus, to investigate potential obstacles related to the production of CAFTs in P. pastoris, the cunner fish trypsin (CFT) was cloned in different Pichia expression vectors. The vectors were constructed targeting both internal and secreted expression and keeping the CFT native signal peptide. Western-blotting analysis confirmed the expression with evident differences for each construct, observing a major effect of the leader peptide sequence on the expression patterns. Immobilized nickel affinity chromatography yielded a partially purified recombinant CFT, which exhibited trypsin-specific activity after activation with bovine enterokinase.

Animals↗

Organisation of trypsin genes in the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis, Crustacea, copepoda) genome.

Trypsins constitute a subclass of the S1A family of serine peptidases found in all groups of animal and some bacteria. At present, no information about the genomic organisation of trypsins is available for copepods. The only data of copepod trypsins indicate several different trypsins in the marine parasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis. In the present study, 31.7 kbp of genomic DNA surrounding the previously described LsTryp1-5 sequences was sequenced. The sequenced regions contain nine full-length and three partial trypsin genes. A conservative estimate based on PCR analysis and genomic sequence indicated at least 22 different trypsin genes in L. salmonis, of which 18 are most similar to the previously described LsTryp1 and -2 cDNA sequences. Four of these genes are putative pseudogenes. In addition, a putative mariner like transposase gene was identified. The genomic sequences suggest that the L. salmonis trypsin genes reside within one or more gene clusters. Three different LsTryp intron exon structures were identified, and all three are different from the intron exon organisation previously reported for other S1A peptidases. This implies several intron loss and gain events in the evolution of the L. salmonis trypsin genes.

Animals↗