Abstract
In fish larvae the costs of rapid growth may be accommodated by a decrease in the rate of protein turnover or by a reduction in the costs of protein synthesis. Protein growth, synthesis and degradation were measured in yolk-sac larvae of Clarias gariepinus and the costs of protein synthesis and protein growth were estimated. Growth rates were over 100% protein weight day-1. Protein synthesis retention efficiency (retained protein per unit of synthesis) was estimated to be 69.6%, a value comparable to that of larger fish. The larvae used 43% of their oxygen consumption for protein synthesis. Nevertheless, protein synthesis costs were close to theoretical minima. Therefore, the high growth rates of catfish yolk-sac larvae seem to be possible through minimisation of the costs of protein synthesis. These low costs are associated with high rates of protein synthesis (138%protein weight day-1), and elevated RNA concentrations (107 µg RNA mg-1protein), which together suggest very high RNA efficiencies (12.9 g protein synthesized g-1RNA day-1).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Aoyagi, Y., Tasaki, I., Okumura, J.I. and Muramatsu, T. 1988. Energy cost of whole-body protein synthesis measured in vivo in chicks. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 91A: 765-768.
Brown, C.R. and Cameron, J.N. 1991. The induction of specific dynamic action (SDA) in channel catfish by infusion of essential amino acids. Physiol. Zool. 64: 276-297.
Conceição, L., Verreth, J., Scheltema, T. and Machiels, M. 1993. A simulation model for the metabolism of yolk-sac larvae of Clarias gariepinus. Aquacult. Fish. Manage. 24: 431-443.
Fauconneau, B. 1984. The measurement of whole body protein synthesis in larval and juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 78B: 845-850.
Fauconneau, B. 1985. Protein synthesis and protein deposition in fish. In Nutrition and Feeding in Fish. pp. 17-45. Edited by C.B. Cowey, A.M. Mackie and J.G. Bell. Academic Press, New York.
Fauconneau, B., Aguirre, P. and Bergot, P. 1986a. Protein synthesis in early life of coregonids: Influence of temperature and feeding. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 22: 171-188.
Fauconneau, B., Aguirre, P., Dabrowski, K. and Kaushik, S.J. 1986b. Rearing of sturgeon (Acipenser baeri Brandt) larvae. 2. Protein metabolism influence of fasting and diet quality. Aquaculture 51: 117-131.
Garlick, P.J., McNurlan, M.A. and Preedy, V.R. 1980. A rapid and convenient technique for measuring the rate of protein synthesis in tissues by injection of [3H]phenylalanine. Biochem. J. 192: 719-723.
Hogendoorn, H. and Vismans, M.M. 1980. Controlled propagation of the African catfish, Clarias lazera (C and V). II. Artificial reproduction. Aquaculture 21: 39-53.
Hawkins, A.J.S., Widdows, J. and Bayne, B.L. 1989. The relevance of whole body protein metabolism to measured costs of maintenance and growth in Mytilus edulis. Physiol. Zool. 62: 745-763.
Houlihan, D.F. 1991. Protein turnover in ectotherms and implications for energetics. In Advances in Comparative and Environmental Biology, Vol. 7, pp. 1-43. Edited by R. Gilles. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Houlihan, D.F., Hall, S.J., Gray, C. and Noble, B.S. 1988. Growth rates and protein turnover in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 45: 951-964.
Houlihan, D.F., McCarthy, I.D., Carter, C.G. and Marttin, F. 1995a. Protein turnover and amino acid flux in fish larvae. ICES Mar. Sci. Symp. 201: 87-99.
Houlihan, D.F., Pedersen, B.H., Steffensen, J.F. and Brechin, J. 1995b. Protein synthesis growth and energetics in larval herring (Clupea harengus) at different feeding regimes. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 14:195-208.
Houlihan, D.F., McMillan, D.N. and Laurent, P. 1986. Growth rates, protein synthesis, and protein degradation rates in rainbow trout: effects of body size. Physiol. Zool. 59: 482-493. Houlihan, D.F., Pannevis, M. and Heba, H. 1993. Protein synthesis in juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). J. World Aquacult. Soc. 24: 145-151.
Houlihan, D.F., Wieser, W., Foster, A., and Brechin, J. 1992. In vivo protein synthesis in larval nase (Chondrostoma nasus L.). Can. J. Zool. 70: 2436-2440.
Jørgensen, C.B. 1988. Metabolic costs of growth and maintenance in the toad, Bufo bufo. J. Exp. Biol. 138: 319-331.
Jobling, M. 1985. Growth. In Fish Energetics: New Perspectives. pp. 213-230. Edited by P. Tytler and P. Calow. Croom Helm, London.
Kamler, E., Szlaminska, M., Kuczynski, M., Hamackova, J., Kouril, J. and Dabrowski, R. 1994. Temperature-induced changes of early development and yolk utilization in the African catfish Clarias gariepinus. J. Fish Biol. 44: 311-326.
Kent, J. and Prosser, C.L. 1980. Effect of incubation and acclimatation temperature on incorporation of U-[14C] glycine into mitochondrial protein of liver cells and slices from green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus. Physiol. Zool. 53: 293-304.
Kiørboe, T. 1989. Growth in fish larvae: are they particularly efficient?. Rapp. P.-v Reun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 191: 383-389.
Kiørboe, T. and Møhlenberg, F. 1987. Partitioning of oxygen consumption between “maintenance” and “growth” in developing herring, Clupea harengus (L) embryos. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 111: 99-108.
Kiørboe, T., Munk, P. and Richardson, K. 1987. Respiration and growth of larval herring Clupea harengus: relation between specific dynamic action and growth efficiency. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 40: 1-10.
Krumschnabel, G. and Wieser, W. 1994. Inhibition of the sodium pump does not cause a stoichiometric decrease of ATPproduction in energy limited fish hepatocytes. Experientia 50: 483-485.
Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, A.L., Farr, A.L. and Randall R.J. 1951. Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193: 265-275.
McMillan, D.N. and Houlihan, D.F. 1988. The effect of refeeding on tissue protein synthesis in rainbow trout. Physiol. Zool. 61: 429-441.
Millward, D.J., Garlick, P.J., James, W.P.T., Nnanyelugo, D.O. and Ryatt, J.S. 1973. Relationship between protein synthesis and RNA content in skeletal-muscle. Nature, Lond. 241: 204-205.
Nichols J.R. and Fleming, W.R. 1990. The effect of cycloheximide and actinomysin-D on the Na+ metabolism and gill RNA metabolism of the euryhaline teleost, Fundulus kansae. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 95A: 441-444.
Pannevis, M.C. and Houlihan, D.F. 1992. The energetic cost of protein synthesis in isolated hepatocytes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J. Comp. Physiol. 162B: 393-400.
Reeds, P.J. and Davies, T.A. 1992. Hormonal regulation of muscle protein synthesis and degradation. In The Control of Fat and Lean Deposition. pp. 1-26. Edited by K.N. Boorman, P.J. Buttery and D.B. Lindsay. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford.
Reeds, P.J., Fuller, M.F. and Nicholson, B.A. 1985. Metabolic basis of energy expenditure with particular reference to protein. In Substrate and Energy Metabolism in Man. pp. 46-57. Edited by J.S. Garrow and D. Halliday. John Libley, Londo
Richter, C.J.J., Eding, E.H., Verreth, J.A.J. and Fleuren, W.L.G. 1995. African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). In Broodstock Management and Egg and Larval Quality. pp. 242-276. Edited by N.R. Bromage and R.J. Roberts. Blackwell Science, Oxford/London.
Rombough, P.J. 1994. Energy partitioning during fish development: additive or compensatory allocation of energy to support growth. Functl Ecol. 8: 178-186.
Saez, L., Goicoechea, O., Amthauer, R. and Krauskopf, M. 1982. Behaviour of RNA and protein synthesis during the acclimation of the carp. Studies with isolated hepatocytes. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 72B: 31-38.
Smith, R.W. and Houlihan, D.F. 1995. Protein synthesis and oxygen consumption in fish cells. J. Comp. Physiol. B 165: 93-101.
Snedecor, G.W. and Cochran, W.G. 1989. Statistical Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.
Suzuki, O. and Yagi, K. 1976. A fluorometric assay for ßphenylamine in rat brain. Anal. Biochem. 75: 192-200.
Toffolo, G., Foster, D.M. and Cobelli, C. 1993. Estimation of protein fractional synthetic rate from tracer data. Am. J. Physiol. 264: E128-E135.
Waterlow, J.C., Garlick, P.J. and Millward, D.J. 1978. Protein Turnover in Mammalian Tissues and in the Whole Body. North-Holland, Amsterdam.
Waterlow, J.C. and Millward, D.J. 1989. Energy cost of turnover of protein and other cellular constituents. In Energy Transformation in Cells and Organisms. pp. 272-282. Edited by W. Wieser and E. Gnaiger. Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart.
Wieser, W. 1994. Cost of growth in cells and organisms: general rules and comparative aspects. Biol. Rev. 68, 1-33.
Wieser, W., Forstner, H., Medgyesy, N. and Hinterleitner, S. 1988a. To switch or not to switch: partitioning of energy between growth and activity in larval cyprinids (Cyprinidae: Teleostei). Functl. Ecol. 2: 499-507.
Wieser, W., Forstner, H., Schiemer, F. and Mark, W. 1988b. Growth rates and growth efficiencies in larvae and juveniles of Rutilus rutilus and other cyprinid species: effects of temperature and food in the laboratory and in the field. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 45: 943-950.
Wieser, W. and Medgyesy, N. 1990a. Aerobic maximum for growth in the larvae and juveniles of a cyprinid fish, Rutilus rutilus (L.): implications for energy budgeting in small poikilotherms. Functl. Ecol. 4: 233-242.
Wieser, W. and Medgyesy, N. 1990b. Cost of growth in larvae of two species of fish with widely different metabolic rates. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. Ser. B 242: 51-56.
Wolfe, R.R. 1992. Radioactive and Stable Isotope Tracers in Biomedicine. Principles and Practice of Kinetic Analysis. Wiley-Liss, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Conceição, L., Houlihan, D. & Verreth, J. Fast growth, protein turnover and costs of protein metabolism in yolk-sac larvae of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 16, 291–302 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007751130768
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007751130768