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

该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。某些锥体蜗牛进化出了一种狩猎策略，它们通过未知的机制释放出有效的肽来调节鱼类的行为。然后蜗牛张开嘴，毫无抵抗地吃掉鱼。该项目将利用转录组学、蛋白质组学、肽合成、行为药理学和核磁共振研究其作用机制。这将在功能、结构和进化水平上推进对水生化学调节剂的认识，并为具有独特药理学和应用于人类生理学、发育生物学和水产养殖的分子探针提供来源。

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.