| Title: | A Distinct Saponin Profile Drives an Olfactory-Mediated Aggregation in the Aquacultivated Sea Cucumber Holothuria scabra |
| Author(s): | Claereboudt EJS; Claereboudt MR; Savarino P; Caulier G; Gaumez L; Deleu M; Gerbaux P; Eeckhaut I; |
| Address: | "Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 7000 Mons, Belgium. Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Interfaces, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium. Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman. Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (S2MOs), Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 7000 Mons, Belgium. Belaza Marine Station (IH.SM-UMONS-ULIEGE), Toliara 601, Madagascar. Indian Ocean Trepang, Mahavatsy II, Toliara 601, Madagascar" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1660-3397 (Electronic) 1660-3397 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Intraspecific chemical communication between echinoderms has often been limited to prespawning aggregation. However, sea cucumber farmers have long observed year-round adult aggregation as a potential source of disease propagation and the suboptimal use of available sea pen acreage and food resources. In this study, through spatial distribution statistics, we demonstrated the significant aggregation of the aquacultivated sea cucumber Holothuria scabra both as adults in large sea-based pens and as juveniles in laboratory-based aquaria, proving that aggregation in these animals is not only observed during spawning. The role of chemical communication in aggregation was investigated using olfactory experimental assays. Our study established that the sediment that H. scabra feeds on as well as the water preconditioned by conspecifics induced positive chemotaxis in juvenile individuals. More specifically, through comparative mass spectrometry, a distinct triterpenoid saponin profile/mixture was identified to be a pheromone allowing sea cucumber intraspecific recognition and aggregation. This 'attractive' profile was characterized as containing disaccharide saponins. This 'attractive' aggregation-inducing saponin profile was, however, not conserved in starved individuals that were no longer attractive to other conspecifics. In summary, this study sheds new light on the pheromones in echinoderms. It highlights the complexity of the chemical signals detected by sea cucumbers and suggests a role of saponins well beyond that of a simple toxin" |
| Keywords: | Animals *Holothuria/chemistry *Sea Cucumbers *Saponins/pharmacology/chemistry Mass Spectrometry Holothuria scabra aggregation behavior pheromone saponins; |
| Notes: | "MedlineClaereboudt, Emily J S Claereboudt, Michel R Savarino, Philippe Caulier, Guillaume Gaumez, Loic Deleu, Magali Gerbaux, Pascal Eeckhaut, Igor eng 35484342/Fund for Scientific Research/ Switzerland 2023/03/29 Mar Drugs. 2023 Mar 16; 21(3):184. doi: 10.3390/md21030184" |
