EpiFishGrowth
The main aim of this experiment is to clarify how parental supplementation of micronutrients such as b-vitamins in a plant-based diet affect fast muscle growth in offspring muscle. Research has shown that the levels of micronutrients such as b-vitamins in parents can affect the long-term health of their offspring. 1-C-cycle nutrients including folate, methionine and the cofactors vitamin B6 and B12 are central factors in nutrient-induced changes to epigenetic gene regulation and play also important roles in energy metabolism and transamination reactions. In mammals, deficiencies in 1-C-related substrates around the conception period may lead to epigenetic alterations in DNA and histone methylation in genes encoding proteins that regulate essential developmental processes in the embryo.
In Atlantic salmon farming, novel feeds with high levels of plant-based ingredients have lower levels of many B-vitamins and indispensable amino acids compared to fish ingredient-based diets. In this experiment, we use zebrafish as a model to study how the parental 1-C nutrient status affect fast muscle structure and health through changing nutrient-responsive and epigenetic mechanisms such as gene expression and DNA methylation, respectively. We will associate muscle phenotypes with multi-omics analysis in order to elucidate how epigenetic mechanisms serve as one mechanistic explanation of how diet affects muscle structure intra- and intergenerational. Furthermore, we investigate how zebrafish from parents fed a life-long 1-C nutrient deficient diet can benefit from a life-long surplus of 1-C nutrients. The intergenerational design involves 2880 zebrafish distributed in three experimental groups fed plant-based diets with varying 1-C nutrient levels. No distress is expected due to the experimental diets given in both generations.
Results from this study will clarify how 1-C nutrient supplementation in fish feed affects nutrient-responsive and epigenetic patterns in fast muscle of zebrafish. The results have the potential to customize fish feed composition in order to maintain healthy fish through diet over generations. The knowledge obtained through this study contributes to further development of innovative methods for nutritional programming of better fish health.
In Atlantic salmon farming, novel feeds with high levels of plant-based ingredients have lower levels of many B-vitamins and indispensable amino acids compared to fish ingredient-based diets. In this experiment, we use zebrafish as a model to study how the parental 1-C nutrient status affect fast muscle structure and health through changing nutrient-responsive and epigenetic mechanisms such as gene expression and DNA methylation, respectively. We will associate muscle phenotypes with multi-omics analysis in order to elucidate how epigenetic mechanisms serve as one mechanistic explanation of how diet affects muscle structure intra- and intergenerational. Furthermore, we investigate how zebrafish from parents fed a life-long 1-C nutrient deficient diet can benefit from a life-long surplus of 1-C nutrients. The intergenerational design involves 2880 zebrafish distributed in three experimental groups fed plant-based diets with varying 1-C nutrient levels. No distress is expected due to the experimental diets given in both generations.
Results from this study will clarify how 1-C nutrient supplementation in fish feed affects nutrient-responsive and epigenetic patterns in fast muscle of zebrafish. The results have the potential to customize fish feed composition in order to maintain healthy fish through diet over generations. The knowledge obtained through this study contributes to further development of innovative methods for nutritional programming of better fish health.