Publication: The presence of GABA in gastropod mucus and its role in inducing larval settlement
Issued Date
2008-01-18
Resource Type
ISSN
00220981
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2-s2.0-38049044505
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Vol.354, No.2 (2008), 182-191
Suggested Citation
Praphaporn Laimek, Shona Clark, Michael Stewart, Fred Pfeffer, Chaitip Wanichanon, Peter Hanna, Prasert Sobhon The presence of GABA in gastropod mucus and its role in inducing larval settlement. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Vol.354, No.2 (2008), 182-191. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2007.11.003 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/18764
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Title
The presence of GABA in gastropod mucus and its role in inducing larval settlement
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Abstract
Chemical substances that induce larval settlement have been the focus of many gastropod studies due to the importance of wild stock recruitment and production within aquaculture facilities. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), GABA analogs, and GABA-mimetics associated with certain crustose coralline algae (CCA), are known to induce larval settlement in commercial abalone (Haliotis) species, and other gastropods. Furthermore, mucus secreted from these gastropods has been shown to induce larval settlement, but the stimulatory components of mucus have not been thoroughly investigated. We now present data confirming that GABA is the settlement-inducing effector molecule contained within abalone mucus. To do this, we initially generated anti-GABA for use in immunoenzyme and immunofluorescent microscopy. Using these techniques GABA was identified in the nerves and epithelial cells of the foot, including mucus. Dried mucus samples subject to HPLC analysis revealed a mean concentration of 0.68 mM GABA after sample rehydration. The presence of GABA in these samples was confirmed by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (TOF-MS). In addition, GABA was detected in the mucus of several abalone species and other gastropods by immunocytochemistry. Subsequent bioassays using both dry and fresh mucus strongly promoted induction of larval settlement. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
