Research Letters in Biochemistry
Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 251731, 5 pages
doi:10.1155/2009/251731
Research Letter
Metabolism of a Glycosaminoglycan during Metamorphosis in the Japanese Conger eel, Conger myriaster
1Nanae Fresh Water Laboratory, Field Science Center of Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Nanae, 041-1105 Hokkaido, Japan
2Department of Fisheries, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nara, 631-8505 Nara, Japan
3Nikko Station, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency, Nikko, 321-1661 Tochigi, Japan
4Nansei Station, National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research Agency, Minamiise, 516-0193 Mie, Japan
5Hyogo Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Akashi, 674-0093 Hyogo, Japan
Received 26 May 2009; Accepted 5 July 2009
Academic Editor: Robert J. Linhardt
Copyright © 2009 Yutaka Kawakami et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Hyaluronan (HA) is a linear polysaccharide of high molecular weight that exists as a component of the extracellular matrix. The larvae (leptocephali) of the Japanese conger eel (Anguilliformes: Conger myriaster) have high levels of hyaluronan (HA) which is thought to help control body water content. We isolated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from Japanese conger eel leptocephali and measured the changes in tissue HA content during metamorphosis. HA content decreased during metamorphosis. In contrast, neutral sugar content increased during metamorphosis. We hypothesize that the leptocephali utilize a metabolic pathway that converts HA to glucose during metamorphosis. Glucose may then be metabolized to glycogen and stored in the juvenile life-history stage.