title: Sperm-attractant peptide influences the spermatozoa swimming behavior in internal fertilization in Octopus vulgaris.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Napoli 'Federico II', 80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Lisa
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salzano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moccia
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scaloni
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Cosmo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014443:Tyrosine; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Octopus vulgaris; chemoattractant peptide; sperm swimming behavior