
CLC number:
On-line Access: 2026-03-18
Received: 2024-05-16
Revision Accepted: 2024-12-02
Crosschecked: 2026-03-18
Cited: 0
Clicked: 2194
Xiaodan JIA, Shulin TANG, Hexiong FENG, Dimei XU, Chenyuan ZHU, Ke LU, Xufang LIANG. Roles of try and amy in feeding, digestion, growth, and development of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes): insight from a comparative gene knockout study[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University Science B, 2026, 27(3): 280-294.
@article{title="Roles of try and amy in feeding, digestion, growth, and development of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes): insight from a comparative gene knockout study",
author="Xiaodan JIA, Shulin TANG, Hexiong FENG, Dimei XU, Chenyuan ZHU, Ke LU, Xufang LIANG",
journal="Journal of Zhejiang University Science B",
volume="27",
number="3",
pages="280-294",
year="2026",
publisher="Zhejiang University Press & Springer",
doi="10.1631/jzus.B2400246"
}
%0 Journal Article
%T Roles of try and amy in feeding, digestion, growth, and development of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes): insight from a comparative gene knockout study
%A Xiaodan JIA
%A Shulin TANG
%A Hexiong FENG
%A Dimei XU
%A Chenyuan ZHU
%A Ke LU
%A Xufang LIANG
%J Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B
%V 27
%N 3
%P 280-294
%@ 1673-1581
%D 2026
%I Zhejiang University Press & Springer
%DOI 10.1631/jzus.B2400246
TY - JOUR
T1 - Roles of try and amy in feeding, digestion, growth, and development of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes): insight from a comparative gene knockout study
A1 - Xiaodan JIA
A1 - Shulin TANG
A1 - Hexiong FENG
A1 - Dimei XU
A1 - Chenyuan ZHU
A1 - Ke LU
A1 - Xufang LIANG
J0 - Journal of Zhejiang University Science B
VL - 27
IS - 3
SP - 280
EP - 294
%@ 1673-1581
Y1 - 2026
PB - Zhejiang University Press & Springer
ER -
DOI - 10.1631/jzus.B2400246
Abstract: Digestive enzymes of fish are critical to food digestion at the larval stage, but convincing evidence proving the function and necessity of the associated digestive enzymes remains lacking. In this study, we generated the trypsin (try) gene and amylase (amy) gene in the japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9) for the first time. try deletion significantly decreased the expression of try and digestive capacity in try-/- medaka larvae; after 8.5 h of digestion, incompletely digested brine shrimp was observed in the digestive tract at 4 and 15 d post-hatching (dph) of try-/- medaka larvae. Furthermore, the height of intestinal villi and total body length decreased significantly within 15-dph try-/- medaka larvae. However, amy deletion did not influence the digestion of medaka larvae at 4 dph. Only a small amount of incompletely digested brine shrimp was observed in 15-dph amy-/- medaka larvae. Further analysis of the growth, nitrogen metabolism, and intestinal microbes of try-/- adult medaka showed that the body length and weight of adult medaka decreased significantly, while the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the blood significantly increased. Pathological observation of the liver and intestinal tissues showed that try knockout resulted in vacuolar degeneration of liver cells, thinning of the intestinal wall, sparse arrangement of villi, and lower villi height. High-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing revealed that try knockout reduced the diversity of intestinal microbes. These findings demonstrated that try was indispensable for medaka larvae because it continuously affects their growth, nitrogen metabolism, and intestinal development.
[1]AakanchhaaAK, GuptacRK, KumardA, et al., 2020. Genetic divergence and phylogenetic analysis of fish digestive enzymes in carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. Anim Sci, 15(1):21-28.
[2]AhsanMN, FunabaraD, WatabeS, 2001. Molecular cloning and characterization of two isoforms of trypsinogen from anchovy pyloric ceca. Mar Biotechnol, 3(1):80-90.
[3]AndersonK, KuoCY, LuMW, et al., 2018. A transcriptomic investigation of digestive processes in orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides, before, during, and after metamorphic development. Gene, 661:95-108.
[4]ArndtC, SommerU, UeberschärB, 2015. A comparative in-vitro-test on the digestibility of live prey for fish larvae under specific consideration of trypsin. Aquaculture, 446:12-16.
[5]AthwalT, HuangW, MukherjeeR, et al., 2014. Expression of human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) in murine acinar cells promotes pancreatitis and apoptotic cell death. Cell Death Dis, 5(4):e1165-e1165.
[6]BlautM, 2015. Gut microbiota and energy balance: role in obesity. Proc Nutr Soc, 74(3):227-234.
[7]ButtRL, VolkoffH, 2019. Gut microbiota and energy homeostasis in fish. Front Endocrinol, 10:9.
[8]CahuCL, RønnestadI, GrangierV, et al., 2004. Expression and activities of pancreatic enzymes in developing sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax) in relation to intact and hydrolyzed dietary protein; involvement of cholecystokinin. Aquaculture, 238(1-4):295-308.
[9]CaiWC, LiXF, JiangGX, et al., 2017. Effects of fish meal replacement by rice protein concentrate on growth, intestinal digestive and absorptive capability and amino acid metabolism of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). J Nanjing Agric Univ, 40(3):529-538 (in Chinese).
[10]CaiWJ, LiJ, LiL, et al., 2021. Knockout of t1r1 gene in zebrafish (Danio rerio) by CRISPR/Cas9 reveals its roles in regulating feeding behavior. Aquaculture, 545:737189.
[11]CaraJB, MoyanoFJ, CárdenasS, et al., 2003. Assessment of digestive enzyme activities during larval development of white bream. J Fish Biol, 63(1):48-58.
[12]Castro-RuizD, MozanzadehMT, Fernández-MéndezC, et al., 2019. Ontogeny of the digestive enzyme activity of the Amazonian pimelodid catfish Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (Castelnau, 1855). Aquaculture, 504:210-218.
[13]ChongA, HashimR, LeeLC, et al., 2002. Characterization of protease activity in developing discus Symphysodon aequifasciata larva. Aquacult Res, 33(9):663-672.
[14]DariasMJ, MurrayHM, GallantJW, et al., 2007. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of trypsinogen and bile salt-activated lipase during the larval development of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, Pisces, Sparidae). Mar Biol, 152(1):109-118.
[15]de SouzaAPL, FerreiraTH, MouriñoJLP, et al., 2020. Use of Artemia supplemented with exogenous digestive enzymes as sole live food increased survival and growth during the larviculture of the longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi. Aquacult Nutr, 26(4):964-977.
[16]FengL, PengY, WuP, et al., 2013. Threonine affects intestinal function, protein synthesis and gene expression of TOR in Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). PLoS ONE, 8(7):e69974.
[17]FujisawaK, TakamiT, NagatomoT, et al., 2019. Usefulness of adult medaka fish as a model for the evaluation of alcoholic fatty liver. Alcohol, 77:147-154.
[18]GhasemiN, ImaniA, NooriF, et al., 2020. Ontogeny of digestive tract of Stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) from hatching to juvenile stage: digestive enzymes activity, stomach and proximal intestine. Aquaculture, 519:734751.
[19]GisbertE, GiménezG, FernándezI, et al., 2009. Development of digestive enzymes in common dentex Dentex dentex during early ontogeny. Aquaculture, 287(3-4):381-387.
[20]GisbertE, MoreiraC, Castro-RuizD, et al., 2014. Histological development of the digestive system of the Amazonian pimelodid catfish Pseudoplatystoma punctifer. Animal, 8(11):1765-1776.
[21]GisbertE, LuzRK, FernándezI, et al., 2022. Development, nutrition, and rearing practices of relevant catfish species (Siluriformes) at early stages. Rev Aquacult, 14(1):73-105.
[22]HalangkW, KrügerB, RuthenbürgerM, et al., 2002. Trypsin activity is not involved in premature, intrapancreatic trypsinogen activation. Am J Physiol Gastrointestinal Liver Physiol, 282(2):G367-G374.
[23]HamreK, YúferaM, RønnestadI, et al., 2013. Fish larval nutrition and feed formulation: knowledge gaps and bottlenecks for advances in larval rearing. Rev Aquacult, 5(S1):S26-S58.
[24]Hernández-LópezIA, Ibarra-CastroL, Álvarez-GonzálezCA, et al., 2021. Characterization of digestive enzymes during early ontogeny of white Snook (Centropomus viridis). Aquaculture, 535:736399.
[25]InfanteJLZ, CahuCL, 2001. Ontogeny of the gastrointestinal tract of marine fish larvae. Comp Biochem Physiol Part C Toxicol Pharmacol, 130(4):477-487.
[26]JesusTF, MorenoJM, RepolhoT, et al., 2017. Protein analysis and gene expression indicate differential vulnerability of Iberian fish species under a climate change scenario. PLoS ONE, 12(7):e0181325.
[27]JiangJ, ZhengT, ZhouXQ, et al., 2009. Influence of glutamine and vitamin E on growth and antioxidant capacity of fish enterocytes. Aquacult Nutr, 15(4):409-414.
[28]KarasovWH, DouglasAE, 2013. Comparative digestive physiology. Compr Physiol, 3(2):741-783.
[29]KhoaTND, WaqalevuV, HondaA, et al., 2019. Early ontogenetic development, digestive enzymatic activity and gene expression in red sea bream (Pagrus major). Aquaculture, 512:734283.
[30]KhoaTND, WaqalevuV, HondaA, et al., 2020. Comparative study on early digestive enzyme activity and expression in red sea bream (Pagrus major) fed on live feed and micro-diet. Aquaculture, 519:734721.
[31]KhoaTND, HayasakaO, MatsuiH, et al., 2021a. Changes in early digestive tract morphology, enzyme expression and activity of Kawakawa tuna (Euthynnus affinis). Aquaculture, 530:735935.
[32]KhoaTND, WaqalevuV, HondaA, et al., 2021b. An integrative description of the digestive system morphology and function of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) during early ontogenetic development. Aquaculture, 531:735855.
[33]KolkovskiS, 2001. Digestive enzymes in fish larvae and juveniles-implications and applications to formulated diets. Aquaculture, 200(1-2):181-201.
[34]KormasKA, MezitiA, MenteE, et al., 2014. Dietary differences are reflected on the gut prokaryotic community structure of wild and commercially reared sea bream (Sparus aurata). Microbiologyopen, 3(5):718-728.
[35]KortnerTM, OverreinI, ØieG, et al., 2011. Molecular ontogenesis of digestive capability and associated endocrine control in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae. Comp Biochem Physiol Part A Mol Intgr Physiol, 160(2):190-199.
[36]LazoJP, MendozaR, HoltGJ, et al., 2007. Characterization of digestive enzymes during larval development of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Aquaculture, 265(1-4):194-205.
[37]LazoJP, DariasMJ, GisbertE, 2011. Ontogeny of the digestive tract. In: Holt GJ (Ed.), Larval Fish Nutrition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, p.3-46.
[38]LiB, LiangXF, LiuLW, et al., 2014. Effects of dietary protein levels on growth, feed utilization and the enzymes activity on nitrogen Metabolism of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Acta Hydrobiol Sin, 38(2):233-240 (in Chinese).
[39]LivakKJ, SchmittgenTD, 2001. Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2-ΔΔCT method. Methods, 25(4):402-408.
[40]MaZH, QinJG, NieZL, 2012. Morphological changes of marine fish larvae and their nutrition need. In: Pourali K, Raad VN (Eds.), Larvae: Morphology, Biology and Life Cycle. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, USA, p.1-20.
[41]MaZH, GuoHY, ZhengPL, et al., 2014. Ontogenetic development of digestive functionality in golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus 1758). Fish Physiol Biochem, 40(4):1157-1167.
[42]Mata-SotresJA, Martos-SitchaJA, AstolaA, et al., 2016a. Cloning and molecular ontogeny of digestive enzymes in fed and food-deprived developing gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae. Comp Biochem Physiol Part B Biochem Mol Biol, 191:53-65.
[43]Mata-SotresJA, MoyanoFJ, Martínez-RodríguezG, et al., 2016b. Daily rhythms of digestive enzyme activity and gene expression in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) during ontogeny. Comp Biochem Physiol Part A Mol Integr Physiol, 197:43-51.
[44]MatsumotoT, TeraiS, OishiT, et al., 2010. Medaka as a model for human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Dis Model Mech, 3(7-8):431-440.
[45]MirIN, SrivastavaPP, BhatIA, et al., 2018. Expression and activity of trypsin and pepsin during larval development of Indian walking catfish (Clarias magur). Aquaculture, 491:266-272.
[46]MirIN, BhatIA, DarSA, et al., 2019. Expression of alpha-amylase and growth-related genes during early larval developmental stages of Clarias magur. Aquaculture, 507:69-74.
[47]Moguel-HernándezI, PeñaR, AndreeKB, et al., 2016. Ontogeny changes and weaning effects in gene expression patterns of digestive enzymes and regulatory digestive factors in spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus) larvae. Fish Physiol Biochem, 42(5):1319-1334.
[48]MurashitaK, MatsunariH, KumonK, et al., 2014. Characterization and ontogenetic development of digestive enzymes in Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis larvae. Fish Physiol Biochem, 40(6):1741-1755.
[49]Navarro-GuillénC, MoyanoFJ, YúferaM, 2015. Diel food intake and digestive enzyme production patterns in Solea senegalensis larvae. Aquaculture, 435:33-42.
[50]NazemroayaS, YazdanparastR, NematollahiMA, et al., 2015. Ontogenetic development of digestive enzymes in Sobaity Sea bream Sparidentex hasta larvae under culture condition. Aquaculture, 448:545-551.
[51]NémethBC, Sahin-TóthM, 2014. Human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) variants and chronic pancreatitis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, 306(6):G466-G473.
[52]Pérez-SánchezJ, Simó-MirabetP, Naya-CatalàF, et al., 2018. Somatotropic axis regulation unravels the differential effects of nutritional and environmental factors in growth performance of marine farmed fishes. Front Endocrinol, 9:687.
[53]Pérez-SirkinDI, SolovyevM, DelgadinTH, et al., 2020. Digestive enzyme activities during pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) ontogeny. Aquaculture, 524:735151.
[54]RoeselersG, MittgeEK, StephensWZ, et al., 2011. Evidence for a core gut microbiota in the zebrafish. ISME J, 5(10):1595-1608.
[55]RønnestadI, YúferaM, UeberschärB, et al., 2013. Feeding behaviour and digestive physiology in larval fish: current knowledge, and gaps and bottlenecks in research. Rev Aquac, 5(S1):S59-S98.
[56]Rungruangsak-TorrissenK, MossR, AndresenLH, et al., 2006. Different expressions of trypsin and chymotrypsin in relation to growth in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Fish Physiol Biochem, 32(1):7-23.
[57]SeoBS, ParkSJ, HwangSY, et al., 2022. Effects of decreasing fishmeal as main source of protein on growth, digestive physiology, and gut microbiota of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Animals, 12(16):2043.
[58]ShenFF, LiCJ, TengT, et al., 2018. Ontogenetic development of digestive tract and digestive enzymatic activities in Squaliobarbus curriculus larvae. Aquac Res, 49(9):3158-3166.
[59]SrichanunM, TantikittiC, UtarabhandP, et al., 2013. Gene expression and activity of digestive enzymes during the larval development of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Comp Biochem Physiol Part B Biochem Mol Biol, 165(1):1-9.
[60]SunRJ, ZhangWB, XuW, et al., 2013. Effects of dietary protein level and feeding frequency on the growth performance, body composition and protein metabolism of juvenile large yellow croakers, Pseudosciaena crocea R. Acta Hydrobiol Sin, 37(2):281-289.
[61]TongXH, XuSH, LiuQH, et al., 2012. Digestive enzyme activities of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) during early developmental stages under culture condition. Fish Physiol Biochem, 38(3):715-724.
[62]Topić PopovićN, ČižmekL, BabićS, et al., 2023. Fish liver damage related to the wastewater treatment plant effluents. Environ Sci Pollut Res, 30(17):48739-48768.
[63]UeberschärB, Navarro-GuillénC, GomesA, et al., 2018. Variability in digestive enzyme capacity in early stages of marine fish larvae: ontogenetic variations, biorhythms, hormonal control and nutrient sensing mechanisms. In: Yúfera M (Ed.), Emerging Issues in Fish Larvae Research. Springer, Cham, p.87-129.
[64]UllahS, ZhangJZ, XuBY, et al., 2022. Effect of dietary supplementation of lauric acid on growth performance, antioxidative capacity, intestinal development and gut microbiota on black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii). PLoS ONE, 17(1):e0262427.
[65]WangAR, RanC, RingøE, et al., 2018. Progress in fish gastrointestinal microbiota research. Rev Aquacult, 10(3):626-640.
[66]WangYB, GuQ, 2010. Effect of probiotic on growth performance and digestive enzyme activity of Arbor Acres broilers. Res Vet Sci, 89(2):163-167.
[67]YangRB, XieCX, FanQX, et al., 2010. Ontogeny of the digestive tract in yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco larvae. Aquaculture, 302(1-2):112-123.
[68]YúferaM, MoyanoFJ, Martínez-RodríguezG, 2018. The digestive function in developing fish larvae and fry. From molecular gene expression to enzymatic activity. In: Yúfera M (Ed.), Emerging Issues in Fish Larvae Research. Springer, Cham, p.51-86.
[69]ZhangJX, GuoLY, FengL, et al., 2013. Soybean β-conglycinin induces inflammation and oxidation and causes dysfunction of intestinal digestion and absorption in fish. PLoS ONE, 8(3):e58115.
[70]ZhaoJ, LiuY, JiangJ, et al., 2012. Effects of dietary isoleucine on growth, the digestion and absorption capacity and gene expression in hepatopancreas and intestine of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). Aquaculture, 368-369:117-128.
[71]ZhouCP, GeXP, NiuJ, et al., 2015. Effect of dietary carbohydrate levels on growth performance, body composition, intestinal and hepatic enzyme activities, and growth hormone gene expression of juvenile golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus. Aquaculture, 437:390-397.
[72]ZhouL, BudgeSM, GhalyAE, et al., 2011. Extraction, purification and characterization of fish chymotrypsin: a review. Am J Biochem Biotechnol, 7(3):104-123.
[73]ZokaeifarH, BalcázarJL, SaadCR, et al., 2012. Effects of Bacillus subtilis on the growth performance, digestive enzymes, immune gene expression and disease resistance of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Fish Shellfish Immunol, 33(4):683-689.
[74]ZouWB, CooperDN, MassonE, et al., 2022. Trypsinogen (PRSS1 and PRSS2) gene dosage correlates with pancreatitis risk across genetic and transgenic studies: a systematic review and re-analysis. Hum Genet, 141(8):1327-1338.
Open peer comments: Debate/Discuss/Question/Opinion
<1>