Temporal dynamics of amino and fatty acid composition in the razor clam Ensis siliqua (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Abstract

Few studies have been conducted on the temporal dynamics of both amino acid (AA) and fatty acid (FA) profiles in marine bivalves. We investigated the seasonal variation of these compounds in the pod razor clam Ensis siliqua in relation to food availability, salinity, water temperature and reproductive cycle. AA content varied between 46.94 and 54.67 % dry weight (DW), and the AAs found in greater quantity were glutamic acid, glycine and aspartic acid. FA content varied between 34.02 and 87.94 mg g -1 DW and the FAs found in greater quantity were 16:0 and 22:6n-3. Seasonal trends were observed for AAs and FAs. FAs increased with gametogenesis and decreased with spawning while AA content increased throughout spawning. The effect of increasing temperature and high food availability during the spawning season masked the loss of AAs resulting from gamete release. Still, a comparatively greater increase in the contents of glutamic acid and leucine with spawning indicate their possible involvement in a post-spawning gonad recovery mechanism. A post-spawning decrease in 14:0, 16:0, 16:1n-7, 18:1n-7 and 18:1n-9 is indicative of the importance of these FAs in bivalve eggs. An increase in 18:3n-3, 18:4n-3, 20:1n-9 and 20:2n-6 during gametogenesis suggests their involvement in oocyte maturation. The FA 22:4n-6, while increasing with spawning, appears to play a role in post-spawning gonad recovery. Salinity did not have an effect on the AA composition. None of the environmental parameters measured had an effect on FA composition.

Fatty Acids of Marine Mollusks: Impact of Diet, Bacterial Symbiosis and Biosynthetic Potential

“…FA composition varies from species to species, but n-3 PUFA are usually dominant. Furthermore, the high content of EPA and DHA shown in Table 3 is similar to the values obtained for the other species from different regions, for example, Crassostrea angulata, Mytilus edulis, C. edule and Venerupis pullastra from the coastal and estuarine systems of Portugal [86]; the oyster Crassostrea virginica [87] and sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus from the coast of Canada [88]; and the pod razor clam Ensis siliqua [89]. PUFAs, especially EPA (19-22% of total FAs) and DHA (20-32% of total FAs) were found to account for the majority of total FAs in tissues of the scallops Patinopecten yessoensis and Chlamys farreri, which provides an opportunity to use them as a potentially health-promoting food for human consumption [90].…”

Single nucleotide polymorphism markers with applications in aquaculture and assessment of its impact on natural populations

“…The primary producers of lipids and FAs enriched with n -3 PUFA are bacteria, phytoplankton, algae and diatoms, which are grazed by zooplankton, pelagic and benthic animals, including filtrators such as marine bivalves and crustaceans, fish and marine mammals. Marine bivalve lipids have been well characterized (Baptista et al, 2014;Jarzebski et al, 1986a;Jarzebski and Wenne, 1990;Jarzebski et al, 1986b;Polak et al, 1987;Wenne and Polak, 1989;Wenne and StyczynskaJurewicz, 1987). Long-chain FA-CoA ligases (ACSLs) play crucial roles in FA metabolism.…”

Fatty acid composition of female and male clams (Ruditapes philippinarum): energy intake and temperature reliance

“…The content of lipids in bivalves usually increases during gametogenesis and drops with spawning. These fluctuations are most evident in females, owing to the higher lipid content found in their gonads (Caers et al 1999(Caers et al , 2003Delgado et al 2004;Ojea et al 2004;Fern andez-Reiriz et al 2007;Narv aez et al 2008;Baptista et al 2014).…”