Spawning induces a shift in energy metabolism from glucose to lipid in rainbow trout white muscle

Evolutionary Adaptation of Protein Turnover in White Muscle of Stenothermal Antarctic Fish: Elevated Cold Compensation at Reduced Thermal Responsiveness

Protein turnover is highly energy consuming and overall relates to an organism's growth performance varying largely between species, e.g., due to pre-adaptation to environmental characteristics such as temperature. Here, we determined protein synthesis rates and capacity of protein degradation in white muscle of the cold stenothermal Antarctic eelpout (Pachycara brachycephalum) and its closely related temperate counterpart, the eurythermal common eelpout (Zoarces viviparus). Both species were exposed to acute warming (P. brachycephalum, 0 °C + 2 °C day-1; Z. viviparus, 4 °C + 3 °C day-1). The in vivo protein synthesis rate (Ks) was monitored after injection of 13C-phenylalanine, and protein degradation capacity was quantified by measuring the activity of cathepsin D in vitro. Untargeted metabolic profiling by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to identify the metabolic processes involved. Independent of temperature, the protein synthesis rate was higher in P. brachycephalum (Ks = 0.38-0.614 % day-1) than in Z. viviparus (Ks= 0.148-0.379% day-1). Whereas protein synthesis remained unaffected by temperature in the Antarctic species, protein synthesis in Z. viviparus increased to near the thermal optimum (16 °C) and tended to fall at higher temperatures. Most strikingly, capacities for protein degradation were about ten times higher in the Antarctic compared to the temperate species. These differences are mirrored in the metabolic profiles, with significantly higher levels of complex and essential amino acids in the free cytosolic pool of the Antarctic congener. Together, the results clearly indicate a highly cold-compensated protein turnover in the Antarctic eelpout compared to its temperate confamilial. Constant versus variable environments are mirrored in rigid versus plastic functional responses of the protein synthesis machinery.

Differential gene expression and SNP association between fast- and slow-growing turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Growth is among the most important traits for animal breeding. Understanding the mechanisms underlying growth differences between individuals can contribute to improving growth rates through more efficient breeding schemes. Here, we report a transcriptomic study in muscle and brain of fast- and slow-growing turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), a relevant flatfish in European and Asian aquaculture. Gene expression and allelic association between the two groups were explored. Up-regulation of the anaerobic glycolytic pathway in the muscle of fast-growing fish was observed, indicating a higher metabolic rate of white muscle. Brain expression differences were smaller and not associated with major growth-related genes, but with regulation of feeding-related sensory pathways. Further, SNP variants showing frequency differences between fast- and slow-growing fish pointed to genomic regions likely involved in growth regulation, and three of them were individually validated through SNP typing. Although different mechanisms appear to explain growth differences among families, general mechanisms seem also to be involved, and thus, results provide a set of useful candidate genes and markers to be evaluated for more efficient growth breeding programs and to perform comparative genomic studies of growth in fish and vertebrates.

Substantial Downregulation of Myogenic Transcripts in Skeletal Muscle of Atlantic Cod during the Spawning Period

Gonadal maturation is an extremely energy consuming process for batch spawners and it is associated with a significant decrease in growth and seasonal deterioration in flesh quality. Our knowledge about the molecular mechanisms linking sexual maturation and muscle growth is still limited. In the present study, we performed RNA-Seq using 454 GS-FLX pyrosequencing in fast skeletal muscle sampled from two-year-old Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) at representative time points throughout the reproductive cycle (August, March and May). In total, 126,937 good quality reads were obtained, with 546 nucleotide length and 52% GC content on average. RNA-Seq analysis using the CLC Genomics Workbench with the Atlantic cod reference UniGene cDNA data revealed 59,581 (46.9%) uniquely annotated reads. Pairwise comparison for expression levels identified 153 differentially expressed UniGenes between time points. Notably, we found a significant suppression of myh13 and myofibrillar gene isoforms in fast skeletal muscle during the spawning season. This study uncovered a large number of differentially expressed genes that may be influenced by gonadal maturation, thus representing a significant contribution to our limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating muscle wasting and regeneration in batch spawners during their reproductive cycle.

Transcriptional Profiling Reveals Differential Gene Expression of Amur Ide (Leuciscus waleckii) during Spawning Migration

Amur ide (Leuciscus waleckii), an important aquaculture species, inhabits neutral freshwater but can tolerate high salinity or alkalinity. As an extreme example, the population in Dali Nor lake inhabits alkalized soda water permanently, and migrates from alkaline water to neutral freshwater to spawn. In this study, we performed comparative transcriptome profiling study on the livers of Amur ide to interrogate the expression differences between the population that permanently inhabit freshwater in Ganggeng Nor lake (FW) and the spawning population that recently migrated from alkaline water into freshwater (SM). A total of 637,234,880 reads were generated, resulting in 53,440 assembled contigs that were used as reference sequences. Comparisons of these transcriptome files revealed 444 unigenes with significant differential expression (p-value ≤ 0.01, fold-change ≥ 2), including 246 genes that were up-regulated in SM and 198 genes that were up-regulated in FW. The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the mTOR signaling pathway, Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway, and oxidative phosphorylation were highly likely to affect physiological changes during spawning migration. Overall, this study demonstrates that transcriptome changes played a role in Amur ide spawning migration. These results provide a foundation for further analyses on the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying Amur ide spawning migration.

Untangling the positive genetic correlation between rainbow trout growth and survival

Explanations for positive and negative genetic correlations between growth and fitness traits are essential for life-history theory and selective breeding. Here, we test whether growth and survival display genetic trade-off. Furthermore, we assess the potential of third-party traits to explain observed genetic associations. First, we estimated genetic correlations of growth and survival of rainbow trout. We then explored whether these associations are explained by genetic correlations with health, body composition and maturity traits. Analysis included 14 traits across life stages and environments. Data were recorded from 249 166 individuals belonging to 10 year classes of a pedigreed population. The results revealed that rapid growth during grow-out was genetically associated with enhanced survival (mean r_G = 0.17). This resulted because genotypes with less nematode caused cataract grew faster and were more likely to survive. Fingerling survival was not genetically related to weight or to grow-out survival. Instead, rapid fingerling growth made fish prone to deformations (r_G = 0.18). Evolutionary genetics provides a theoretical framework to study variation in genetic correlations. This study demonstrates that genetic correlation patterns of growth and survival can be explained by a set of key explanatory traits recorded at different life stages and that these traits can be simultaneously improved by selective breeding.

Effect of sexual maturation on thermal stability, viscoelastic properties, and texture of female rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, fillets

The nutrient and energy demand of sexual maturation in many fish cultivars causes structural change to key contractile proteins and thereby, affects fillet firmness. Thermal denaturation and viscoelastic properties of white muscle from diploid (2N; fertile) and triploid (3N; sterile) female rainbow trout were investigated at 6 age endpoints from July 2008 through spawning in March 2009. Differential scanning calorimetry showed, in March, that the actin denaturation temperature (T(max,actin)) of 2N females was higher than that observed in 3N females (78.17 versus 77.27 °C). From 35 to 45 °C, viscoelastic measurement revealed that muscle from 2N females and younger fish (July, 16 mo) had greater elasticity (lower tan δ) than muscle from 3N females and older fish (November to March; 20 to 24 mo), respectively. The highest elastic response and the firmest fillets were observed in July. Raw fillets were softer (Allo-Kramer shear; P < 0.05) from September to January (288.77 g/g on average) than those collected in July (475.15 g/g) and March (366.79 g/g). Soft fillets became firmer after cooking except for January samples. Greater cook yield and softer fillets were observed in January compared to December. Lipid accumulation in 3N females may lubricate muscle fibers and protect them from losing functionality during the spawning season for animals on a high plane of nutrition.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The relationship between fish maturation, measured as egg development, and chemical characteristics of fillets from fertile and sterile fish was evaluated. Thermal denaturation and viscoelastic characterization revealed changes in stability and gelling properties of muscle proteins that were related to changes in fillet texture.

Origins of variation in muscle cytochrome c oxidase activity within and between fish species

Mitochondrial content, central to aerobic metabolism, is thought to be controlled by a few transcriptional master regulators, including nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1), NRF-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). Though well studied in mammals, the mechanisms by which these factors control mitochondrial content have been less studied in lower vertebrates. We evaluated the role of these transcriptional regulators in seasonal changes in white muscle cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity in eight local fish species representing five families: Centrarchidae, Umbridae, Esocidae, Gasterosteidae and Cyprinidae. Amongst centrarchids, COX activity was significantly higher in winter for pumpkinseed (2-fold) and black crappie (1.3-fold) but not bluegill or largemouth bass. In esociforms, winter COX activity was significantly higher in central mudminnow (3.5-fold) but not northern pike. COX activity was significantly higher in winter-acclimatized brook stickleback (2-fold) and northern redbelly dace (3-fold). Though mudminnow COX activity increased in winter, lab acclimation to winter temperatures did not alter COX activity, suggesting a role for non-thermal cues. When mRNA was measured for putative master regulators of mitochondria, there was little evidence for a uniform relationship between COX activity and any of NRF-1, NRF-2α or PGC-1α mRNA levels Collectively, these studies argue against a simple temperature-dependent mitochondrial response ubiquitous in fish, and suggest that pathways which control mitochondrial content in fish may differ in important ways from those of the better studied mammals.

Metabolic enzyme activities in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) from the Swan-Canning Estuary, Western Australia

The Swan-Canning estuary, in southwestern Australia, is subject to frequent algal blooms and associated periods of hypoxia due to high levels of nutrients in stormwater runoff and sewage spills. Fish in which cellular respiration is impaired due to chronic exposure to non-nutrient pollutants in the water will have a reduced ability to survive these periods of high stress. In order to investigate if metabolic respiration in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) was altered, fish were collected from five sites in the Swan-Canning estuary in summer 2001, summer 2002 and winter 2002. Aerobic and anaerobic capacities were estimated by measuring the enzymes cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Neither seasonal or annual trends, nor upstream or downstream gradients were observed in either biomarker. The fish collected from the Barrack Street site, which is close to the Perth Central Business District, were heavily challenged in their aerobic capacity in the summer months compared to the other sites. In addition, the fish at Barrack Street displayed an altered anaerobic capacity. It is likely that the impaired metabolic capacity of the fish at Barrack Street reduces the fishes' ability to survive the frequent algal blooms within the estuary.

Metabolic enzyme activities in fish gills as biomarkers of exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons

Metabolic effects of low-level exposure of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to the water accommodated fraction (WAF) of crude oil and to dispersed crude oil were studied. Aerobic enzymes citrate synthase and cytochrome C oxidase, and anaerobic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase were measured in gills during a 4-day exposure to low concentrations of dispersed Bass Strait crude oil and WAF, and during the following 8 days of depuration in clean seawater. Relative to pre-exposure levels, citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase exhibited a significant inhibition of activity during exposure to the WAF of crude oil, and to dispersed crude oil, while activity of cytochrome C oxidase remained unchanged. Citrate synthase activities returned to preexposure levels after 4 days following termination of exposure for the WAF-exposed fish, and after 2 days for the dispersed-oil-exposed fish. After the termination of exposure to both treatments, lactate dehydrogenase activity remained low relative to levels measured prior to exposure, which indicated that the activity of this enzyme may be a sensitive medium to long-term biomarker of exposure to petroleum-contaminated water bodies.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, carnitine palmitoyltransferase II, and acyl-CoA oxidase activities in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Salmon farmers are currently using high-energy feeds containing up to 35% fat; the fish's capability of fully utilizing these high-energy feeds has received little attention. Carnitine is an essential component in the process of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and, with the cooperation of two carnitine palmitoyltransferases (CPT-I and CPT-II) and a carnitine acylcarnitine transporter across the inner mitochondrial membrane, acts as a carrier for acyl groups into the mitochondrial matrix where beta-oxidation occurs. However, no reports are available differentiating between CPT-I and CPT-II activities in fish. In order to investigate the potential for fatty acid catabolism, the activities of key enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation were determined in different tissues from farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), i.e., acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) and CPT-I and CPT-II. Malonyl-CoA was a potent inhibitor of CPT-I activity not only in red muscle but also in liver, white muscle, and heart. By expressing the enzyme activities per wet tissue, the CPT-I activity of white muscle equaled that of the red muscle, both being >> liver. CPT-II dominated in red muscle whereas the liver and white muscle activities were comparable. ACO activity was high in the liver regardless of how the data were calculated. Based on the CPT-II activity and total palmitoyl-L-carnitine oxidation in white muscle, the white muscle might have a profound role in the overall fatty acid oxidation capacity in fish.