Aquatic chemo-modulators: a novel source for potent molecular probes

本项目旨在研究调节猎物行为的肽。化学信号构成了水下生命的大部分语言。某些锥螺进化出了一种狩猎策略，它们释放出有效的肽，通过未知的机制调节鱼类的行为。然后，蜗牛张开嘴，毫无抵抗地吃掉了鱼。该项目将使用转录组学、蛋白质组学、肽合成、行为药理学和核磁共振来研究起作用的机制。这将推进水生化学调节剂的功能，结构和进化水平上的知识，并提供一个来源的分子探针与独特的药理学和应用在人类生理学，发育生物学和水产养殖。

This project aims to investigate peptides that modulate prey behaviour. Chemical signalling constitutes much of the language of life underwater. Certain cone snails evolved a hunting strategy, where they release potent peptides to modulate fish behaviour through yet unknown mechanisms. The snail then expands its mouth and eats the fish without resistance. This project will investigate the mechanisms at play using transcriptomics, proteomics, peptide synthesis, behavioural pharmacology and nuclear magnetic resonance. This will advance the knowledge of aquatic chemo-modulators on a functional, structural and evolutionary level, and provide a source of molecular probes with unique pharmacology and applications in human physiology, developmental biology and aquacultures.