Assessment of Metabolism of the Eastern Oyster and Eastern Elliptio Using NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract

Metabolites are known to characterize the functional responses of a cell. Therefore, a quantitative measurement of metabolite profiles can provide insight into the underlying effect of genetic or environmental actions on cell metabolism. It follows then that the study of the metabolite profiles of bivalve mollusks, such as oysters, can be particularly worthwhile in assessing changes in physiology, pharmacology and toxicology that result from their adaptation to changing environments. We have determined the metabolic profiles of three different organ groups in freshwater mussel and oysters by using 1H (proton) and 13C (carbon) NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy following the infusion of 13C glucose or 13C glycine, respectively. The result shows infused glucose formed glycogen by glycogen synthesis, alanine by glycolysis, and glutamate and aspartate through the Krebs cycle and glycine formed serine by the glycine cleavage system in oysters. Decrease in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), glucogen, putrescine and ornithine were observed in the fasting state freshwater mussel. Our result opens the possibility that organ specific metabolic fingerprints can be established to interpret functional adaptations to environmental and nutritional challenges using NMR spectroscopy.