Identification and Characterization of the Larval Settlement Pheromone Protein Components in Adult Shells of Crassostrea gigas: A Novel Function of Shell Matrix Proteins.

ABSTRACT: The global decline of natural oyster populations emphasizes the need to improve our understanding of their biology. Understanding the role of chemical cues from conspecifics on how oysters occupy appropriate substrata is crucial to learning about their evolution, population dynamics, and chemical communication. Here, a novel role of a macromolecular assembly of shell matrix proteins which act as Crassostrea gigas Settlement Pheromone Protein Components in adult shells is demonstrated as the biological cue responsible for gregarious settlement on conspecifics. A bioassay-guided fractionation approach aided by biochemical and molecular analyses reveals that Gigasin-6 isoform X1 and/or X2 isolated from adult shells is the major inducing cue for larval settlement and may also play a rol

SUBMITTER: Sedanza MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9456362 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature