Identification of spawning-inducing pheromones in bivalves and elucidation of the basis for highly synchronous simultaneous spawning mechanisms

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06227
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 40040:Aquatic life science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kurita Yoshihisa 九州大学, 農学研究院, 准教授 (40725058)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大野 薫 基礎生物学研究所, 多様性生物学研究室, 助教 (10260035)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 二枚貝 / 一斉産卵 / フェロモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bivalve spawning is known to present a highly synchronous spawning, referred to as simultaneous spawning. On the other hand, the mechanism by which such synchronous spawning is achieved has remained unclear. Therefore, we hypothesized that the spawning-inducing pheromone that induces the spawning behavior of multiple individuals exists in the molecules released with gametes when bivalves spawn, and attempted to isolate and purify the pheromone from the semen of mussels. As a result, we were able to separate and concentrate the active substance with almost no loss of spawning inducing activity by large-volume reverse run chromatography using an open column. Further isolation and purification and mass spectrometry are currently underway to identify the molecular substance of the pheromone.

Free Research Field

水産増養殖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

二枚貝は多くの水産有用種を含む分類群であるが、その漁獲量は年々減少傾向にあり、新たな資源管理手法の構築は急務となっている。例えば二枚貝の種苗を作出し、放流や養殖を行うことは資源管理の一助となりうるが、一部の二枚貝を除き、ホルモンなどを用いた効果的な採卵手法は未だ開発されていない。本研究により一斉産卵を誘発するフェロモン様の活性物質の存在が示されたことにより、今後二枚貝の容易かつ確実な採卵方法の確立が進むことは間違いない。