NMR-BASED METABOLOMICS FOR FINFISH FEED STUDIES

The biochemical effects on aquaculture species fed various ratios of ingredients such as protein or lipid sources or alternative novel ingredients that are meant to improve growth or health status can be assessed in numerous ways. The metabolome is the suite of endogenous, small-molecule metabolites related to biochemical pathways as the products and agents in the fully expressed gene and protein biochemistry of living organisms. It has been postulated that this particular 'omic' measure (metabolomics) is strongly related to the expressed phenotype and could hold the keys to 'discovery' of novel interactions and responses to varying feed formulations. The operating hypothesis of this approach is that the instantaneous metabolite profile reflects the physiological status of the organism and a thorough understanding of the metabolome and its dynamics can lead to diagnostic insight for individuals and populations that could result in optimal feed development, faster growth, and reduced disease. Metabolomics can help investigate broad-based, unbiased biochemical responses to all types of stimuli.

This presentation will give some background details of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based metabolomics measurement approach for the assessment of small-molecule metabolites in tissues and biofluids. Practical examples from studies that we have undertaken across multiple species using tissue-specific analyses with several alternative diet formulations will illustrate the utility of this novel approach.