This piece of research evaluates the presence of protease inhibitors in the macroalga Ulva ohnoi and provides an initial overview of their mode of action. The ability of Ulva protease inhibitors to inhibit digestive proteases of three marine fish species, as well as their capacity to hamper the hydrolysis of a reference protein by those fish proteases, were assessed. In addition, thermal stability and the mode of inhibition on trypsin and chymotrypsin were also studied. Dose-response inhibition curves and in vitro protein hydrolysis assays revealed a noticeable inhibition of fish enzymes when Ulva concentration increased in the assay. The thermal treatment of Ulva reduced markedly the inhibitory effect on fish digestive protease. Finally, Lineweaver-Burk plots indicated that trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibition consisted of a mixed-type inhibition mechanism in which the inhibitory effect depends on Ulva concentration. Overall, the results confirmed the presence of protease inhibitors in Ulva, though heat treatment was enough for inactivating these compounds.
Keywords: Ulva ohnoi; inhibitor; macroalgae; marine fish; protease.