Protein and amino acid nutrition and metabolism in fish: current knowledge and future needs

Abstract

Optimising the amino acid supply in tune with the requirements and improving protein utilization for body protein growth with limited impacts on the environment in terms of nutrient loads is a generic imperative in all animal production systems. With the continued high annual growth rate reported for global aquaculture, our commitments should be to make sure that this growth is indeed re£ected in provision of protein of high biological value for humans. The limited availability of ¢sh meal has led to some concerted e¡orts in ¢sh meal replacement, analysing all possible physiological or metabolic consequences. The rising costs of plant feedstu¡s make it necessary to strengthen our basic knowledge on amino acid availability and utilization. Regulation of muscle protein accretion has great signi¢cance with strong practical implications. In ¢sh, despite low muscle protein synthesis rates, the e⁄ciency of protein deposition appears to be high. Exploratory studies on amino acid £ux, inter-organ distribution and particularly of muscle protein synthesis, growth and degradation and the underlying mechanisms as a¡ected by dietary factors are warranted. Research on speci¢c signalling pathways involved in protein synthesis and degradation have been initiated in order to elucidate the reasons for high dietary protein/ amino acid supply required and their utilization.

Performance and nutrient utilization in South American juvenile catfish Pseudoplatystoma spp. weighting 89 - 170g, fed at different energy and protein levels

“…The replacement of fish meal with alternative protein sources remains the major area of research and much has been achieved in reducing the level of fish meal in formulated diets for fish species (Gatlin et al, 2007;Kaushik and Seiliez, 2010). In this context, the use of plant ingredients is one of the scopes to improve sustainability in aquaculture (Hardy, 2010).…”

Efeitos de dietas contendo concentrados proteicos vegetais no desempenho e atividade de enzimas digestivas de jundiá (Rhamdia quelen)

“…Considerando que as fontes proteicas de origem animal possuem elevado teor de proteína, excelente perfil de aminoácidos, alta digestibilidade e palatabilidade (KAUSHIK; SEILIEZ, 2010;KROGDAHL et al, 2010), sua substituição por fontes vegetais in natura torna-se problemática devido ao desbalanço aminoacídico, fatores antinutricionais e substâncias indigeríveis (fibras) contidos nesses ingredientes (LARSEN; DALSGAARD; PEDERSEN, 2012), os quais irão refletir na digestão e absorção dos nutrientes, prejudicando a atividade das enzimas digestivas dos animais (LUNDSTEDT; MORAES, 2004).…”

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“…RPC contains 75.5% of protein of high biological value and fatty acid composition is characterized by an high percentage of n6 -PUFA (Palmegiano et al, 2006). Other vegetal concentrates have been included in sturgeon diet in the past, as soybean concentrate (Koshio et al, 2001) and considering the importance of amino acid requirements (Kaushik and Seiliez, 2010;Gershanovich and Kiselev, 1993;Ng and Hung, 1995), often the inclusion was coupled with supplemental crystalline amino acids. In this experimentation, dietary amino acid supplementation was not necessary and the diet amino acid composition was comparable with that of previous research with RPC in blackspot sea bream (Palmegiano et al, 2007) and in rainbow trout (Palmegiano et al, 2006).…”