Expression of hemocyanin and digestive enzyme messenger RNAs in the hepatopancreas of the Black Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon.

In order to define the cellular site of synthesis for hemocyanin and digestive enzymes in the decapod hepatopancreas, we studied the expression of messenger ribonucleic acids (RNAs) for these molecules in the epithelium lining hepatopancreas tubules. In situ hybridisation of gene probes for the digestive enzymes amylase, cathepsin-L, cellulase, chitinase-1 and trypsin to tissue sections of the shrimp hepatopancreas confirmed that the F-cells lining tertiary, secondary and primary ducts are the sites of synthesis for digestive enzyme messenger RNA (mRNA). The F-cells also contained mRNA for the hemocyanin gene. This finding raises important questions on the mechanism by which mature hemocyanin accumulates in the shrimp hemolymph. Our in situ hybridisation studies further showed that Penaeus monodon F-cells remain transcriptionally active for digestive enzyme mRNAs during periods of starvation.