| Title: | A complex set of sex pheromones identified in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis |
| Author(s): | Enault J; Zatylny-Gaudin C; Bernay B; Lefranc B; Leprince J; Baudy-Floc'h M; Henry J; |
| Address: | "FRE CNRS 3484 BIOMEA, Biologie des Mollusques Marins et des Ecosystemes Associes, Universite de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0046531 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: The cephalopod mollusk Sepia officinalis can be considered as a relevant model for studying reproduction strategies associated to seasonal migrations. Using transcriptomic and peptidomic approaches, we aim to identify peptide sex pheromones that are thought to induce the aggregation of mature cuttlefish in their egg-laying areas. RESULTS: To facilitate the identification of sex pheromones, 576 5'-expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were sequenced from a single cDNA library generated from accessory sex glands of female cuttlefish. Our analysis yielded 223 unique sequences composed of 186 singletons and 37 contigs. Three major redundant ESTs called SPalpha, SPalpha' and SPbeta were identified as good candidates for putative sex pheromone transcripts and are part of the 87 unique sequences classified as unknown. The alignment of translated SPalpha and SPalpha' revealed a high level of conservation, with 98.4% identity. Translation led to a 248-amino acid precursor containing six peptides with multiple putative disulfide bonds. The alignment of SPalpha-alpha' with SPbeta revealed a partial structural conservation, with 37.3% identity. Translation of SPbeta led to a 252-amino acid precursor containing five peptides. The occurrence of a signal peptide on SPalpha, SPalpha' and SPbeta showed that the peptides were secreted. RT-PCR and mass spectrometry analyses revealed a co-localization of transcripts and expression products in the oviduct gland. Preliminary in vitro experiments performed on gills and penises revealed target organs involved in mating and ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the accessory sex gland transcriptome of Sepia officinalis led to the identification of peptidic sex pheromones. Although preliminary functional tests suggested the involvement of the alpha3 and beta2 peptides in ventilation and mating stimulation, further functional investigations will make it possible to identify the complete set of biological activities expected from waterborne pheromones" |
| Keywords: | Amino Acid Sequence Animal Migration/physiology Animals *Decapodiformes/genetics/metabolism/physiology Expressed Sequence Tags/*metabolism Female Gene Expression Profiling Gene Library Mass Spectrometry Molecular Sequence Data *Peptides/genetics/metabolis; |
| Notes: | "MedlineEnault, Jeremy Zatylny-Gaudin, Celine Bernay, Benoit Lefranc, Benjamin Leprince, Jerome Baudy-Floc'h, Michele Henry, Joel eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/11/03 PLoS One. 2012; 7(10):e46531. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046531. Epub 2012 Oct 30" |
