Article
Details
Citation
Viegas I, Caballero-Solares A, Rito J, Giralt M, Pardal MA, Metón I, Jones JG & Baanante IV (2014) Expressional regulation of key hepatic enzymes of intermediary metabolism in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during food deprivation and refeeding. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 174, pp. 38-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.04.004
Abstract
We hypothesized that the analysis of mRNA level and activity of key enzymes in amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism in a feeding/fasting/refeeding setting could improve our understanding of how a carnivorous fish, like the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), responds to changes in dietary intake at the hepatic level. To this end cDNA fragments encoding genes for cytosolic and mitochondrial alanine aminotransferase (cALT; mALT), pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) were cloned and sequenced. Measurement of mRNA levels through quantitative real-time PCR performed in livers of fasted seabass revealed a significant increase in cALT (8.5-fold induction) while promoting a drastic 45-fold down-regulation of PK in relation to the levels found in fed seabass. These observations were corroborated by enzyme activity meaning that during food deprivation an increase in the capacity of pyruvate generation happened via alanine to offset the reduction in pyruvate derived via glycolysis. After a 3-day refeeding period cALT returned to control levels while PK was not able to rebound. No alterations were detected in the expression levels of G6PDH while 6PGDH was revealed to be more sensitive specially to fasting, as confirmed by a significant 5.7-fold decrease in mRNA levels with no recovery after refeeding. Our results indicate that in early stages of refeeding, the liver prioritized the restoration of systemic normoglycemia and replenishment of hepatic glycogen. In a later stage, once regular feeding is re-established, dietary fuel may then be channeled to glycolysis and de novo lipogenesis.
Keywords
Alanine aminotransferase; Pyruvate kinase; Pentose phosphate pathway; Dicentrarchus labrax; Refeeding; Food deprivation; Lipogenesis
Journal
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology: Volume 174
Status | Published |
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Funders | , , and Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation |
Publication date | 31/08/2014 |
Publication date online | 30/04/2014 |
Date accepted by journal | 07/04/2014 |
Publisher | Elsevier BV |
ISSN | 1095-6433 |
People (1)
Lecturer in Aquaculture Nutrition, Institute of Aquaculture