Project Number: 5366-21310-003-05
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jan 01, 2007
End Date: Apr 30, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this research is to determine if a genotype x feed interaction exists among different commercial strains of rainbow trout, and to compare protein retention, fatty acid profiles, and enzyme function in fish fed the plant-based and fish-meal based diets.

Approach:
The compositional alteration of fish consuming the plant-based diet compared to the fishmeal control diets will be acessed. In this context the fish will be assayed for fillet yield, muscle protein and lipid content, whole body lipid and muscle fatty acid composition over time. Samples of juveniles (100 g) and market fish (450 g) and broodfish will be assayed for the above parameters with 20 samples per time point on each diet. Trout eggs will be assayed for fatty acid profile to assess alteration due to dietary life history. Determinate enzymes necessary for fatty acid partitioning will be examined. Samples will be obtained and tested from two separate groups consisting of the top and bottom performing families. Liver samples will be kept from fish for the metabolic partitioning and compositional analyses section and fish from families that show extremes in fatty acid partitioning. Initial analyses will consist of microarray analysis of pooled samples from each group (high vs low growth performers and groups with significant fatty acid profiles). Real-time PCR assays will be generated for these genes and their levels will again measured using this more precise method. Initial samples will also be tested for RT-PCR gene expression for specific known regulatory fatty acid oxidation genes such as delta-6 desaturase, SREBP (a sterol regulatory compound), thioesterase, and thiolase as sometimes significant changes in gene expression can exist in genes that are not picked up by microarray analyses. Documents Trust with Trout Lodge. Log 31426.