| Autor: |
De Lisa E., Salzano M. A., Moccia F., Scaloni A., DI COSMO, ANNA |
| Přispěvatelé: |
CIAC, De Lisa, E., Salzano, M. A., Moccia, F., Scaloni, A., DI COSMO, Anna |
| Jazyk: |
angličtina |
| Rok vydání: |
2012 |
| Předmět: |
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| Popis: |
Marine invertebrates exhibit both chemokinesis and chemotaxis phenomena, induced in most cases by the release of water-borne peptides or pheromones. In mollusks, several peptides released during egg laying improve both male attraction and mating. Unlike other cephalopods, Octopus vulgaris adopts an indirect internal fertilization (Hanlon and Messenger, 2006). The existence of mechanisms and factors that might mobilize and attract spermatozoa toward the eggs remains not clear in this species. The only data that support the occurrence of a chemical communication process in octopus fertilization are based on the demonstration of an acrosome-like reaction induced by progesterone (Tosti et al., 2001). Here we report for the first time the identification and characterization of a chemoattractant peptide (Octo-Pep) isolated from mature eggs of Octopus vulgaris females. By using two-chamber and time-lapse microscopy assays, we demonstrate that this bioactive peptide is able to i ncrease sperm motility and to induce chemotaxis by changing the octopus spermatozoa swimming behavior in a dose-dependent manner. We also provide evidence that chemotaxis in O. vulgaris requires the presence of extracellular calcium and membrane protein phophorylation at tyrosine. In this frame, we propose Octopus as a model to investigate chemotactic mechanisms in sexual communication to unveil the detailed steps of the fertilization strategy in marine animals with internal fertilization. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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