spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Browne, K. A.
Right arrow Articles by Zimmer-Faust, R. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Browne, K. A.
Right arrow Articles by Zimmer-Faust, R. K.

Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 201, Issue 2 245-258, Copyright © 1998 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Modelling quantitative structure-activity relationships between animal behaviour and environmental signal molecules

KA Browne, MN Tamburri and RK Zimmer-Faust
Department of Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA. zf@protos.lifsci.ucla.edu

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) between the physicochemical properties of environmental signal molecules and animal behaviour have been determined. Past work has shown that oyster and barnacle larval settlement and mud crab abdominal pumping (for larval dispersal) are stimulated by small peptide cues. In all the peptides examined that were active at ecologically relevant concentrations, arginine or lysine was found at the carboxy terminus, but the amino acids found at preceding positions were highly variable. We used the multivariate partial least squares algorithm to relate composite properties for the hydrophilicity, size and charge of each amino acid and the sequence position to oyster, barnacle and crab behaviour patterns. From the information in these QSAR models, the apparent variability in amino acid sequences eliciting behavioural responses was explained in each case, and more potent peptide analogues are hypothesized on the basis of untested amino acid sequences. Remarkably, these peptide signals are all structurally related to the carboxy-terminal sequence of mammalian C5a anaphylatoxin, a potent white blood cell chemoattractant. Even more striking is the fact that these different animal species should rely on apparently similar environmental signal molecules when residing within a common habitat (southeastern US estuaries). Through the physicochemical properties of amino acids, the current QSAR models clearly differentiate between the optimal sequences for eliciting oyster, barnacle and mud crab behaviour. Thus, QSARs provide a novel and powerful method not only for relating the physicochemical properties of molecules to animal behaviour but also for differentiating responses to chemicals by individuals of different species.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
S. Santagata
A Waterborne Behavioral Cue for the Actinotroch Larva of Phoronis pallida (Phoronida) Produced by Upogebia pugettensis (Decapoda: Thalassinidea)
Biol. Bull., October 1, 2004; 207(2): 103 - 115.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
K. A. Browne and R. K. Zimmer
Controlled Field Release of a Waterborne Chemical Signal Stimulates Planktonic Larvae to Settle
Biol. Bull., February 1, 2001; 200(1): 87 - 91.
[Full Text] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1998