Theses and Dissertations Collection

We examined muscle growth in aquacultured sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), a large bodied and fast growing fish from the North Pacific Ocean with economic importance to the United States. A small aquaculture industry, with unrealized growth potential, stands to benefit from knowledge of how different culture environments influence sablefish muscle growth. Species-specific qRT-PCR assays were developed to quantify the transcription of genes with known critical functions in muscle development and nutrient sensing for anabolic signaling in other vertebrates. Expression of these genes was measured in red (oxidative) and white (oxidative, glycolytic, and anaerobic) muscle in males and females over time weighing approximately 0.5 – 2 kg. Differential regulation of these genes by muscle phenotype and at different stages of the growth cycle suggest important and conserved roles in sablefish muscle growth and development. These molecular assay tools will assist in future assessments and design of optimal production measures for sablefish growth efficiency and product quality.