Chemical induction of larval metamorphosis of Pecten maximus with a note on the nature of naturally occurring triggering substances

Type Article
Date 1991-07
Language English
Author(s) Chevolot Lionel1, Cochard Jean-Claude2, Yvin Jean-Claude2
Affiliation(s) 1 : UNIV BRETAGNE OCCIDENTALE, CNRS, URA 322, F-29287 BREST, FRANCE.
2 : IFREMER, CTR BREST, F-29263 PLOUZANE, FRANCE.
Source Marine Ecology Progress Series (0171-8630) (Inter-research), 1991-07 , Vol. 74 , N. 1 , P. 83-89
DOI 10.3354/meps074083
WOS© Times Cited 45
Abstract Delayed metamorphosis usually occurs when scallop Pecten maximus (L.) larvae are reared in still water. Metamorphosis rates may be increased by adding aqueous extracts of certain marine red algae, including one [Delesseria sanguinea (Linne) Lamouroux (Delesseriaceae, Rhodomelaceae)] from which various chemical inducers have been isolated. Of these, jacaranone (a simple quinol) is by far the most active component; other components (p-OH phenylacetic acid methyl ester, p-OH benzaldehyde, p-OH benzyl alcohol) are only weak inducers. All are catabolic derivatives of tyrosine. Homogentisic acid (biosynthetically related to jacaranone) and some catecholamines (L-DOPA, epinephrine) can also induce metamorphosis of P. maximus larvae. All these compounds can be transformed into quinones by oxidation. This result, together with literature data, strongly suggests that the true inducer(s) present in the environment might possess a quinone or quinone-like structure, as is the case for jacaranone.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Publisher's official version 7 742 KB Open access
Top of the page

How to cite 

Chevolot Lionel, Cochard Jean-Claude, Yvin Jean-Claude (1991). Chemical induction of larval metamorphosis of Pecten maximus with a note on the nature of naturally occurring triggering substances. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 74(1), 83-89. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.3354/meps074083 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00182/29348/