Open AccessCharacterisation of Reproduction-Associated Genes and Peptides in the Pest Land Snail, Theba pisana
Author(s) -
Michael Stewart,
Tianfang Wang,
Bradley I. Harding,
Utpal Bose,
Russell C. Wyeth,
Kenneth B. Storey,
Scott F. Cummins
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0162355
Subject(s) - biology , land snail , snail , zoology , ecology , freshwater snail
Increased understanding of the molecular components involved in reproduction may assist in understanding the evolutionary adaptations used by animals, including hermaphrodites, to produce offspring and retain a continuation of their lineage. In this study, we focus on the Mediterranean snail, Theba pisana , a hermaphroditic land snail that has become a highly invasive pest species within agricultural areas throughout the world. Our analysis of T . pisana CNS tissue has revealed gene transcripts encoding molluscan reproduction-associated proteins including APGWamide, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and an egg-laying hormone (ELH). ELH isoform 1 (ELH1) is known to be a potent reproductive peptide hormone involved in ovulation and egg-laying in some aquatic molluscs. Two other non-CNS ELH isoforms were also present in T . pisana ( Tpi-ELH2 and Tpi-ELH3 ) within the snail dart sac and mucous glands. Bioactivity of a synthetic ELH1 on sexually mature T . pisana was confirmed through bioassay, with snails showing ELH1-induced egg-laying behaviours, including soil burrowing and oviposition. In summary, this study presents a detailed molecular analysis of reproductive neuropeptide genes in a land snail and provides a foundation for understanding ELH function.