Marine gamete-release pheromones

In contrast to the large body of experimental evidence for the existence of sex pheromones in marine invertebrates, only a few chemical structures of these compounds have been elucidated. Here we report the isolation and identification of two gamete-release pheromones of marine invertebrates. By bio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1996-07, Vol.382 (6588), p.214-214
Main Authors: Zeeck, Erich, Harder, Tilman, Beckmann, Manfred, Müller, Carsten T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Humanities and Social Sciences
Marine
multidisciplinary
Nereis succinea
Platynereis dumerilii
Polychaeta
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
scientific-correspondence
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Summary:In contrast to the large body of experimental evidence for the existence of sex pheromones in marine invertebrates, only a few chemical structures of these compounds have been elucidated. Here we report the isolation and identification of two gamete-release pheromones of marine invertebrates. By bioassay-guided fractionation and purification, we identified uric acid as the sperm-release pheromone of Platynereis dumerilii and inosine as the main component of the egg-release pheromone complex of Nereis succinea (Annelida, Polychaeta). These compounds contain the purine ring system, which has not as yet been identified in sex pheromones of any species.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/382214a0