Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-19T15:07:45.810Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

RNA, DNA and protein concentrations and amino acid profiles of deep-sea decapod Aristeus antennatus: An indication for seasonal variations of nutrition and growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2004

Rui Rosa*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Inovação Tecnológica e Valorização dos Produtos da Pesca, IPIMAR, Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria L. Nunes
Affiliation:
Departamento de Inovação Tecnológica e Valorização dos Produtos da Pesca, IPIMAR, Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
Get access

Abstract

Seasonal changes in nucleic acid concentrations and amino acid profiles in the muscle of juvenile Aristeus antennatus were investigated. RNA content, RNA:DNA and RNA:protein ratios varied significantly between seasons (p < 0.05), being the lowest and the highest values obtained in winter and spring/summer. A significant variation in the total amino acid content (TAA) from winter to summer was observed (p < 0.05). In fact, during this period a significant percent of increase in total non- (NEAA; 20.2%) and essential amino acids (EAA, 18.7%) contents occurred. Concomitantly, a significant decrease in the free amino acid (FAA) content from winter to summer was observed. A higher percentage of decrease with free essential amino acids (FEAA; 56.6%) in comparison to free non-essential amino acids (FNEAA; 34.2%) was attained. The significant increase in RNA and TAA contents from winter to summer may be related with protein synthesis. On the other hand, the lowest values obtained in winter may be due to a reduction in feeding activity; in this period the muscle protein must be progressively hydrolysed, which is evident with the higher FAA content. The liberated amino acids enter FAA pool and become available for energy production.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD, 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arculeo, M., Payen, G., Cuttitta, A., Galioto, G., Riggio, S., 1995, A survey of ovarian maturation in a population of Aristeus antennatus (Crustracea: Decapoda). Anim. Biol. 4, 13-18.
Barclay, M.C., Dall, W., Smith, D.M., 1983, Changes in lipid and protein during starvation and the moulting cycle in the tiger prawn, Penaeus esculentus Haswell. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 68, 229-244. CrossRef
Beis, I.D., Newsholme, E.A., 1975, The contents of adenine nucleotides, phosphagen and some glycolytic intermediates in resting muscle from vertebrates and invertebrates. Biochem. J. 152, 23-32. CrossRef
Buckley, L.J., Caldarone, E., Ong, T.-L., 1999, RNA-DNA ratio and other nucleic acid-based indicators for growth and condition of marine fishes. Hydrobiologia 401, 265-277. CrossRef
Cartes, J.E., Sardà, F., 1989, Feeding ecology of the deep-water aristeid crustacean Aristeus antennatus. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 54, 229-238. CrossRef
Chícharo, M.A., Chícharo, L., Valdés, L., López-Jamar, E., , P., 1998, Estimation of starvation and diel variation of the RNA/DNA ratios in field-caught Sardina pilchardus larvae off the north of Spain. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 164, 273-283. CrossRef
Claybrook D.L., 1983, Nitrogen metabolism. In: Mantel L.H. (Ed.) The biology of Crustacea. Vol. 5. Internal anatomy and physiological regulation. Academic Press, New York, pp. 163-213.
Clemmesen, C., 1994, The effect of food availability, age or size on the RNA/DNA of individually measured herring larvae: laboratory calibration. Mar. Biol. 118, 377-382. CrossRef
Cristo, M., Cartes, J.E., 1998, A comparative study of the feeding ecology of Nephrops norvegicus (L.), (Decapoda: Nephropidae) in the bathyal Mediterranean and the adjacent Atlantic. Sci. Mar. 62, 81-90. CrossRef
Dall, W., 1981, Lipid absorption and utilization in the norwegian lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (L.). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 50, 33-45. CrossRef
Dall, W., Smith, D.M., 1987, Changes in protein-bound and free amino acids in the muscle of the tiger prawn Penaeus esculentus during starvation. Mar. Biol. 95, 509-520. CrossRef
Fiúza, A.F.G., Hamann, M., Ambar, I., Del Rio, G.D., González, N., Cabanas, J.M., 1998, Water masses and their circulation off western Iberia during May 1993. Deep-Sea Res. I 45, 1127-1160. CrossRef
Gage J.D., Tyler P.A., 1991, Deep-sea biology: a natural history of organisms at the deep-sea floor. Cambridge University Press, London.
Gras, J., Gudefin, Y., Chagny, F., 1978, Free amino acids and ninhydrin – positive substances in fish – I. Muscle and skin of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii Richardson). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 60B, 369-372.
Hartnoll R.G., 1983, Growth. In: Bliss D.E. (Ed.) The biology of Crustacea. Vol 8. Academic Press, New York, pp. 214-282.
Helland S., Terjesen B.F., Berg L., 2003, Free amino acid and protein content in the planktonic copepod Temora Longicornis compared to Artemia franciscana. Aquaculture 215, 213-228.
Hochachka, P.W., Mommsen, T.P., Storey, J., Storey, K.B., Johansen, K., French, C.J., 1983, The relationship between arginine and proline metabolism in cephalopods. Mar. Biol. 4, 1-21.
Holthius, L.B., 1980, Shrimps and prawns of the world. An annotated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries. FAO Fish. Synops. 125, 1-261.
Houlihan, D.F., Waring, C.P., Mathers, E., Gray, C., 1990, Protein synthesis and oxygen consumption of the shore crab Carcinus maenas after a meal. Physiol. Zool. 63, 735-756. CrossRef
Labropoulou, M., Kostikas, I., 1999, Patterns of resource use in deep-water decapods. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 184, 171-182. CrossRef
Litaay, M., De Silva, S.S., Gunasekera, R.M., 2001, Changes in the amino acid profiles during embryonic development of the blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra). Aquat. Living Resour. 14, 335-342. CrossRef
Mayrand, E., Guderley, H., Dutil, J.-D., 2000, Biochemical indicators of muscle growth in the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio (O.Fabricius). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 255, 37-49. CrossRef
Mejbaum, W., 1939, Über die bestimmung kleiner pentosemengen, insbesondere in derivaten der adenylsäure. Z. Phys. Chem. 258, 117-120. CrossRef
Mente, E., Coutteau, P., Houlihan, D.F., Davidson, I., Sorgeloos, P., 2002, Protein turnover, amino acid profile and amino acid flux in juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei: effects of dietary protein source. J. Exp. Biol. 205, 3107-3122.
Moss, S.M., 1994, Growth rates, nucleic acid concentrations, and RNA/DNA ratios of juvenile white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei Boone, fed different algal diets. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 182, 193-204. CrossRef
Parslow-Williams P.J., Atkinson R.J.A., Taylor A.C., 2001, Nucleic acids as indicators of nutritional condition in the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 235-243.
Passano L.M., 1960, Molting and its control. In Waterman T.H. (Ed.), The physiology of Crustacea. Metabolism and growth, vol. I. Academic Press, New York, pp. 473-536.
Rosa, R., Nunes, M.L., 2003, Biochemical composition of deep-sea decapod crustaceans with two different benthic life strategies off the Portuguese south coast. Deep-Sea Res. I 50, 119-130. CrossRef
Wilder, I.B., Stanley, J.G., 1983, RNA-DNA ratios as an index to growth in salmonid fishes in the laboratory and in streams contaminated by carbaryl. J. Fish Biol. 22, 165-172. CrossRef
Zar J.H., 1996, Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA.