Gene expression and activity of digestive enzymes during the larval development of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer).

Knowledge of digestive enzyme development during larval stages provides a better understanding of the digestive and nutritional physiology of fish larvae. This study characterized the ontogeny of key digestive enzymes in Asian seabass larvae from hatching to juvenile stage (30 days post hatch, dph) using molecular and biochemical approaches. Gene expression and activity of pepsinogen (pg), trypsinogen (try), chymotrypsinogen (ctr), bile salt-activated lipase (bal), α-amylase (amy), leucine aminopeptidase (lap) and alkaline phosphatase (alp) were determined.