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Making scents of pheromones in molluscs
Conference presentation

Making scents of pheromones in molluscs

Scott F Cummins
2010 University Research Conference Program Book, p.11
USC Research Conference, 2010 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 08-Nov-2010–10-Nov-2010)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2010
url
http://www.usc.edu.au/View
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Abstract

Fisheries Sciences molluscs pheromones
Pheromones are by far the most important signalling molecules, used by almost all animals for reproduction, feeding, settlement, and predator avoidance. Molluscs represent the second largest animal phyla and have significant impacts on Australia's agriculture, biodiversity, and human health. We know relatively little about how they communicate using pheromones. Our objective has been to decode the pheromone systems of two distinct molluscan species. Specially, our study aimed to: (i) characterise the water-borne sexual attraction pheromone of sea slugs, and (ii) characterise the pheromone that triggers extreme malemale aggression in squid. To achieve our aims, we implement a combination of molecular biology, peptidomic and behavioural approaches. Our research reveals that molluscs have developed ingenious and potent solution to communication with a mate. We found that the sea slug pheromone message consists of multiple small proteins made from unique genes that are not found in humans. And these pheromones are potent - just one teaspoonful in an Olympic-sized swimming pool would send sea slugs love-struck. Meanwhile, we report the discovery of a novel contact pheromone - we termed aggression - that immediately and dramatically changes the behaviour of male squid from calm swimming and schooling to extreme fighting, even in the absence of females. An intimate knowledge of precisely what the pheromones are and how they work, should provide novel techniques towards enhancing molluscan aquaculture and eliminating pests.

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