Mass spectrometry imaging reveals new biological roles for choline esters and Tyrian purple precursors in muricid molluscs.
Despite significant advances in chemical ecology, the biodistribution, temporal changes and ecological function of most marine secondary metabolites remain unknown. One such example is the association between choline esters and Tyrian purple precursors in muricid molluscs. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) on nano-structured surfaces has emerged as a sophisticated platform for spatial analysis of low molecular mass metabolites in heterogeneous tissues, ideal for low abundant secondary metabolites. Here we applied desorption-ionisation on porous silicon (DIOS) to examine in situ changes in biodistribution over the reproductive cycle. DIOS-MSI showed muscle-relaxing choline ester murexine to co-localise with tyrindoxyl sulfate in the biosynthetic hypobranchial glands. But during egg-laying, murexine was transferred to the capsule gland, and then to the egg capsules, where chemical ripening resulted in Tyrian purple formation. Murexine was found to tranquilise the larvae and may relax the reproductive tract. This study shows that DIOS-MSI is a powerful tool that can provide new insights into marine chemo-ecology.
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
David
D
Rudd
Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.|Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Maurizio
M
Ronci
Flinders Centre for Nanoscale Science and Technology, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
Martin R
MR
Johnston
Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
Taryn
T
Guinan
Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
Nicolas H
NH
Voelcker
Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, P.O. Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
Kirsten
K
Benkendorff
D000818:Animals; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004952:Esters; D005260:Female; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D054802:Molecular Imprinting; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012098:Reproduction; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014018:Tissue Distribution
C553805:6,6'-dibromoindigo; D004952:Esters; D007211:Indoles; C008561:murexine; D002794:Choline; D012825:Silicon