| Title: | Sperm-attractant peptide influences the spermatozoa swimming behavior in internal fertilization in Octopus vulgaris |
| Author(s): | De Lisa E; Salzano AM; Moccia F; Scaloni A; Di Cosmo A; |
| Address: | "Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Napoli 'Federico II', 80126 Napoli, Italy" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1477-9145 (Electronic) 0022-0949 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "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 strategy. We here report on the identification and characterization of a chemoattractant peptide isolated from mature eggs of octopus females. Using two-chamber and time-lapse microscopy assays, we demonstrate that this bioactive peptide is able to increase sperm motility and induce chemotaxis by changing the octopus spermatozoa swimming behavior in a dose-dependent manner. We also provide evidence that chemotaxis in the octopus requires the presence of extracellular calcium and membrane protein phophorylation at tyrosine. This study is the first report on a sperm-activating factor in a non-free-spawning marine animal" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Calcium/metabolism Chemotactic Factors/isolation & purification/*metabolism Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid Female Fertilization Italy Male Membrane Proteins/metabolism Octopodiformes/*physiology Ovum/physiology Peptides/isolation & purificat;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineDe Lisa, Emilia Salzano, Anna Maria Moccia, Francesco Scaloni, Andrea Di Cosmo, Anna eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2013/05/31 J Exp Biol. 2013 Jun 15; 216(Pt 12):2229-37. doi: 10.1242/jeb.081885" |
