Fixation of bioactive compounds to the cuticle of Artemia
Talens-Perales, D. (David); Martín-Navarro, J. (Julia); Garrido, D. (Diego); Almansa, E. (Eduardo); Polaina, J. (Julio)
Artemia is extensively used in aquaculture to feed early stages of cultured marine species. A problem associated
with this practice is that Artemia fails to supply some essential nutrients. As a possible solution, we have devised
a procedure to make Artemia a vehicle for exogenous nutrients and other bioactive compounds. It consists of the
construction of chimeric proteins composed of a chitin-binding domain, which binds to the cuticle of Artemia,
and a carrier domain that conveys a functional property. As confirmatory examples, we describe the successful
fixation to Artemia's metanauplii of two hybrid proteins: a β-galactosidase from the thermophilic bacterium
Thermotoga maritima and the jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP), both linked to the CBM2 chitin-binding
domain from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. Positive results of experiments carried out ex
vivo and in vivo show the validity of this approach. The methodology used could become a general procedure for
the attachment of different kinds of bioactive compounds, such as enzymes, hormones, antibiotics, etc., to the
cuticle of Artemia as well as other arthropods.
Statement of relevance: Our results overcome shortcomings of Artemia as a feedstock.
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