The purified pirarucu trypsin also has high homology with saffron cod, a fish native to cold regions, in the first nine N-terminal amino acids (IVGGYECPR). However, the pirarucu trypsin, characterised in the present study, did not show the same degree of homology with the trypsin from the Amazonian fish tambaqui, which occupies the same niche. Furthermore, A. gigas trypsin has the sequence NSVPYQ at position 10–15, which is also present in porcine and human trypsin. The first seven residues (IVGGYEC) determined for the pirarucu trypsin are conserved in most fish, with rare exceptions, such

as tilapia, which has a replacement of Val selleck chemical by Iso in the second position. In most mammals, the replacement of Glu by Thr or Asp is observed at position 5, but other positions are conserved. A. gigas trypsin had a Pro residue

at position 8, where Ala or Lys is common in fish trypsin. The Cys residue at position 7 (Cys-7) is conserved in all trypsins from fish and mammals analysed to (present) date and, according to Stroud, Kay, and Dickerson (1974), the bovine trypsin has a disulphide bond between Cys-7 and Cys 142. By observing the conservation of Cys-7 in trypsins of various animals, there is the possibility that a disulphide selleck chemicals bond (Cys-7/Cys-142) occurs in other trypsins, like fish trypsins. This bond

is essential for the structure and function of these enzymes. An alkaline protease was purified from the pyloric caeca of Arapaima gigas. The characterization, with specific substrate, inhibitors and the N-terminal sequence, demonstrated that 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase this protease is a trypsin. Moreover, it showed interesting features, such as high activity and stability over a large alkaline pH range, thermostability and activity at elevated salt concentrations. These characteristics have confirmed that fish viscera may, under industrial conditions, be used as a source of trypsin with potential for industrial applications. The authors would like to thank Albérico Espírito Santo and João Virgínio for their technical assistance and Dr. Maria do Carmo Figueredo Soares for donation of specimens. This study was supported by the Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP/RECARCINE), Ministério da Aquicultura e Pesca (MAP), Empresa brasileira de pesquisa agropecuária (Embrapa), Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico (CNPq), Fundação de Apoio à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE), Petróleo do Brasil S/A (PETROBRAS) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). “
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