Mucus Trail Proteins May Infer Reproductive Readiness for Land Snails.

ABSTRACT: Mucus trails are defining features of the class Gastropoda, which includes snails and slugs. While several studies have shown that mucus trails are followed by conspecifics, the detectable elements in the mucus have not been clearly identified. This is particularly relevant during periods of reproduction, whereby conspecific cues are critical for mate finding. A better understanding of the mucus' molecular components, including proteins differentially represented between the reproductive and non-reproductive stages, could aid the development of novel eco-friendly biocontrol approaches. In this study, we investigated the mucus trails of the globally invasive land snail Cernuella virgata, which has become a significant pest to the grain industry. We conducted a comparative proteomic a

SUBMITTER: Ballard KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11940790 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature