Variations in the concentration of free amino acids during the early development of the Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru

The free amino acids (FAAs) profile and its variations during the embryonic development and yolk-sac larvae of Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru are described. The concentration of 15 FAAs (nine essentials and six non-essentials) was evaluated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The fertilized eggs of L. peru contain a small concentration of FAAs (4.77 +/- 0.89 nmol ind(-1)). However, the variations in the FAAs pool during the early development are similar to the changes reported in other species with small pelagic eggs. The essential free amino acids are more abundant than the non-essential free amino acids throughout the studied period. During the egg stage, an increase in the FAAs was observed, and after hatching, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, and alanine were the FAAs that decreased the most during the yolk-sac larvae stage. The hatching rate was correlated with the total FAAs, the fraction of essential free amino acids, and the concentrations of glutamic acid, threonine, and valine in the egg stage, suggesting a possible role as a determinant in egg quality. Further studies are required to assess the role of FAAs in other aspects of egg development, like fertilization rate and egg buoyancy.