Ballard Kate R, Ventura Tomer, Wang Tianfang, Elizur Abigail, Cummins Scott F
Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.
School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.
Biology (Basel). 2025 Mar 14;14(3):294. doi: 10.3390/biology14030294.
Mucus trails are defining features of the class Gastropoda, which includes snails and slugs. While several studies have shown that mucus trails are followed by conspecifics, the detectable elements in the mucus have not been clearly identified. This is particularly relevant during periods of reproduction, whereby conspecific cues are critical for mate finding. A better understanding of the mucus' molecular components, including proteins differentially represented between the reproductive and non-reproductive stages, could aid the development of novel eco-friendly biocontrol approaches. In this study, we investigated the mucus trails of the globally invasive land snail , which has become a significant pest to the grain industry. We conducted a comparative proteomic analysis of the non-reproductive- and reproductive-stage trail mucus, whereby 533 proteins were identified, including 191 and 226 stage-exclusive proteins, respectively. Subsequent comparative tissue transcriptomic analysis found that the albumen gland, which is the key gland for the preparation of fertilized eggs prior to egg laying, was the primary source of secreted proteins present in the reproductive stage trail mucus. This included leukocyte elastase inhibitors, achacin, perlucin, and other proteins without any known function (uncharacterized). In summary, our results strongly implicate the albumen gland as a source for snail trail mucus proteins deposited during the reproductive stage, suggesting a mechanism that could convey their reproductive status to conspecifics. Further research testing their bioactivity related to chemical communication is paramount and may assist in the development of a novel biocontrol strategy.
黏液痕迹是腹足纲动物的显著特征，腹足纲包括蜗牛和蛞蝓。虽然多项研究表明同种个体能够追踪黏液痕迹，但黏液中可检测到的成分尚未得到明确鉴定。这在繁殖期尤为重要，因为同种线索对于寻找配偶至关重要。更好地了解黏液的分子成分，包括在生殖阶段和非生殖阶段差异表达的蛋白质，可能有助于开发新型环保生物防治方法。在本研究中，我们调查了全球入侵性陆生蜗牛的黏液痕迹，这种蜗牛已成为谷物行业的重大害虫。我们对非生殖阶段和生殖阶段的痕迹黏液进行了比较蛋白质组学分析，共鉴定出533种蛋白质，其中分别有191种和226种为特定阶段的蛋白质。随后的比较组织转录组分析发现，蛋白腺是产卵前准备受精卵的关键腺体，是生殖阶段痕迹黏液中分泌蛋白的主要来源。这包括白细胞弹性蛋白酶抑制剂、阿奇辛、珍珠蛋白以及其他功能未知的蛋白质（未鉴定）。总之，我们的结果有力地表明蛋白腺是生殖阶段蜗牛痕迹黏液蛋白的来源，这表明了一种可能将其生殖状态传达给同种个体的机制。进一步研究测试它们与化学通讯相关的生物活性至关重要，可能有助于开发新的生物防治策略。
