Triacylglycerol digestion by the leader prawn Penaeus monodon

Abstract

Midgut gland extracts from leader prawn Penaeus monodon were evaluated for lipase activity and positional specificity using triolein as a substrate. Lipase activity of aqueous and acetone midgut gland extracts was screened using a mammalian serum lipase test kit and triolein/agar emulsion clearing. Using the clearing method lipase activity was identified in both aqueous and acetone extracts. However, no lipase activity was detected using the serum lipase test kit. In vitro hydrolysis of triolein by midgut gland lipase at pH 8.0 produced 1,2-diacylglycerol and free fatty acid as the sole digestion products indicating specificity for the 1-position of triacylglycerol. The specifcity of lipases from Penaeus monodon for the primary position of triacylglycerol is similar to that of manmalian pancreatic lipase and lipases from Homarus americanus and most fish.