S. N. Pekkoeva

Lipid Status of the Two High Latitude Fish Species, Leptoclinus maculatus and Lumpenus fabricii

A comparative study of the lipid status (i.e., the total lipid and phospholipid concentrations and the percentage of fatty acids of the total lipids) of adult specimens of daubed shanny (Leptoclinus maculatus) from Svalbard waters (Isfjord) and slender eel blenny (Lumpenus fabricii) from the White Sea (Onega Bay and Tersky shore) was performed to study the metabolism and functions of lipids of these fishes in ontogeny and under various ecological conditions. Slender eel blenny from both areas of the White Sea were distinguished by a high level of sphingomyelin compared with the daubed shanny from Svalbard, and the amount of total phospholipids was higher in slender eel blenny from Onega Bay than in slender eel blenny from the Tersky shore. The extent of saturation and the signature of polyenic fatty acids varied according to the specific species of the Stichaeidae family under study. These results demonstrate the differences in the trophoecological and hydrobiological conditions of habitations of these species and highlighted the importance of considering certain trends in the lipid profiles of these fishes as specific features of the organization of the ecological and biochemical mechanisms of adaptation.

Lipid status of larvae and adults of the White Sea herring Clupea pallasii marisalbi Berg (Clupeiformes, Clupeidae)

37 The population of the White Sea herring Clupea pallasii marisalbi Berg (Clupeiformes, Clupeidae) is one of the closest forms of the Pacific herring and one of the most important commercially valuable fishes of the White Sea. The growth of the herring stock in recent years is due to its gradual recovery (after the death in the early 1960s) of the White Sea eelgrass, whose thickets serve as spawning and development sites of eggs as well as foraging and growth sites of her ring larvae and fries [1]. Biochemical studies on the White Sea herring are practically absent. However, such studies could help answer the question as to whether different groups of herring are characterized by biochemical heterogeneity. It is known that lipids play an important role in the formation of the bio chemical status of organisms. They are essential struc tural components of biological membranes, are involved in energy processes in cells and in the regula tion of biochemical reactions and physiological pro cesses, are the precursors of the biosynthesis of steroid hormones, etc. [2, 7].

Age-Specific Lipid and Fatty Acid Profiles of Atlantic Salmon Juveniles in the Varzuga River

The age-specific lipid and fatty acid profiles of juvenile Atlantic salmon at different ages (0+, 1+, and 2+ years) after hatching from nests located in the mainstream of a large Arctic River, the Varzuga River, and resettling to the favorable Sobachji shoal in autumn before overwinter are herein presented. The contemporary methods of the lipid analysis were used: thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The results show that the stability of the regulation of important functions in developing organisms is maintained through structural alterations in lipids. These alterations can be considered as a sequence of the modifications and changes in the ratios of certain lipid classes and fatty acids constituents. In general, changes in the lipids and fatty acids (FAs) maintained the physiological limits and controls through the adaptive systems of the organism. The mechanisms of juvenile fish biochemical adaptation to the environmental conditions in the studied biotope include the modification of the energy metabolism and anabolism, and here belongs to the energy characteristics of metabolic processes.

Ecological role of lipids and fatty acids in the early postembryonic development of the daubed shanny, Leptoclinus maculatus (Fries, 1838) from Kongsfjorden, West Spitsbergen in winter

The dynamics of lipid and fatty acid composition of the muscles (flesh) and lipid sac in L. maculatus early life stages of different age collected in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway), in winter, during the polar night was studied. We showed that the total lipid content in the muscles increases on account of energetic triacylglycerols derived from the lipid sac, which is resorbed in juveniles as they switch to a demersal mode of life. The fatty acid spectrum directly reflects age-dependent and seasonal features of L. maculatus early life stages. The results of the study elucidate the specific role of lipids and fatty acids in the ecological and biochemical mechanisms related to ontogenic development of fish from the family Stichaeidae, particularly arctic-boreal L. maculatus, which assumed to become increasingly frequent in the Spitsbergen water area. They are important for understanding the ability of organisms to maintain and preserve the functional stability of ecosystems as a whole, especially under conditions of climate change in the Arctic.

Ecological Groups of the Daubed Shanny Leptoclinus maculatus (Fries, 1838), an Arcto-boreal Species, Regarding Growth and Early Development

The patterns of growth and development have been studied in L. maculatus early life stages of different ecological groups (pelagic and demersal) from Kongsfjorden and Billefjorden (the northwestern coast of West Spitsbergen). It has been found that the growth rate of larvae markedly increases by age 2+ (stage L2), which is due to their transition to exogenous feeding. Consideration is given to changes in the length and condition of the lipid sac (a provisory organ) in the period of its formation, growth, and resorption in the course of ontogeny. The lipid sac reaches the maximum size at stage L4* and is resorbed at stage L5. Analysis of individual variation in the size and body weight of fish early life stages provides the possibility to evaluate the adaptation capacity of a species under specific conditions of the Arctic.

Estimation of antimicrobial activities and fatty acid composition of actinobacteria isolated from water surface of underground lakes from Badzheyskaya and Okhotnichya caves in Siberia

Extreme and unusual ecosystems such as isolated ancient caves are considered as potential tools for the discovery of novel natural products with biological activities. Actinobacteria that inhabit these unusual ecosystems are examined as a promising source for the development of new drugs. In this study we focused on the preliminary estimation of fatty acid composition and antibacterial properties of culturable actinobacteria isolated from water surface of underground lakes located in Badzheyskaya and Okhotnichya caves in Siberia. Here we present isolation of 17 strains of actinobacteria that belong to the Streptomyces, Nocardia and Nocardiopsis genera. Using assays for antibacterial and antifungal activities, we found that a number of strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces isolated from Badzheyskaya cave demonstrated inhibition activity against bacteria and fungi. It was shown that representatives of the genera Nocardia and Nocardiopsis isolated from Okhotnichya cave did not demonstrate any tested antibiotic properties. However, despite the lack of antimicrobial and fungicidal activity of Nocardia extracts, those strains are specific in terms of their fatty acid spectrum. When assessing fatty acid profile, we found that polyunsaturated fatty acids were quantitatively dominant in extracts of Nocardia sp. and Streptomyces sp. grown in different media. Saturated fatty acids were the second most abundant type in the fatty acid profile. It was due to palmitic acid. Also, a few monounsaturated fatty acids were detected. The obtained materials can become a basis for development of approaches to use bacteria isolated from caves as a biological sources of bioactive compounds to create medical and veterinary drugs.

Fatty Acid Status of Freshwater Resident and Anadromous Forms of Young Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.)

No qualitative or quantitative differences in the profiles of fatty acids (FAs) belonging to the main classes have been found between freshwater resident (Orzega River, Onega Lake Basin) and anadromous (Indera River, White Sea Basin) forms of young brown trout. Differences have been registered in the conversion rate of the food-derived 18:2ω-6 and 18:3ω-3 FAs into long-chain and physiologically active FAs: 20:4ω-6 (arachidonic) and 22:6ω-3 (docosahexaenoic). Freshwater residential form of young brown trout (parr, at 3+-age) from the Orzega River are distinguished by a higher index of 20:4ω-6/18:2ω-6. Anadromous form of young of brown trout (smolts, at 4+-age) from the Indera River have a higher ratio of essential FAs 22:6ω-3/18:3ω-3 and ω-3/ω-6 polyunsaturated FAs; the last index correlates with higher weight–length characteristics of the studied individuals.

Biochemical Heterogeneity of the Lipid Status of the Prespawn Eggs of Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum 1792) (Varzuga River, White Sea basin)

A comparative analysis of lipid and fatty acids contents in certain portions of female gonads—head, central, and caudal—of the prespawned pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbusha has been performed. Heterogeneity of the lipid status of eggs located in certain portions of ovaries has been found: in the head portion, a high level of physiologically important eicosapentaenoic 20:5(n-3) and docosahexaenoic 22:6(n-3) fatty acids has been registered, which coincided with a higher intensity of lipid metabolism evidenced by higher ratio of 16:0/18:1(n-9); the central portion is characterized by a low level of total lipids due to phospholipids (including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin) and cholesterol; in the caudal portion, a high amount of certain phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylinositol) has been found. Such heterogeneity in certain portions of ovaries indicates asynchronous biochemical processes in oocytes of these portions that finally affects fertilization, growth and development of embryos, and further differentiation of the young fish.

Comparative Analysis of the Fatty Acid Profiles of Smolts of the Brown Trout Salmo trutta L. and Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar L. during Smoltification (Indera River, White Sea Basin)

The fatty acid status of the total lipids was studied in smolts of the brown trout and the Atlantic salmon collected in summer in the Indera River (White Sea basin). Higher 18:3ω-3/18:2ω-6, ω-3/ω-6, and 20:4ω-6/18:2ω-6 ratios were found in smolts of the Atlantic salmon in comparison to smolts of the brown trout. A higher amount of essential fatty acid 18:2ω-6 and an increased ratio of the sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids to the sum of saturated fatty acids in smolts of brown trout were observed. We have registered the differences in the ratios of the fatty acids, including physiologically active ones, which indicated species-specific physiological and biochemical processes during smoltification.

Role of phospholipids in early ontogenesis of Arctic-Boreal species Leptoclinus maculatus (Stichaeidae)

The content of total phospholipids and their classes (phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin) of muscles (flesh) and lipid sac of different developmental stages of young fish the daubed shanny, Leptoclinus maculatus from Kongsfjord (Svalbard, Norway) in winter was studied. The content of phospholipids in flesh decreases with age on account of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine that probably related to their role in morphogenesis during differentiation of tissues and organs. The content of phospholipids is lower than reserve lipids in the lipid sac. The level of phospholipids in the lipid sac compared to flesh increases with age of fish reaching the maximum in benthic juveniles. Variations of minor phospholipids content of young fish of the daubed shanny indicate their participation in biochemical mechanisms of adaptation realizing in specific and varying Arctic conditions.