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Biol Bull 154: 226-240. (April 1978)
© 1978 Marine Biological Laboratory
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ANTENNULAR CHEMOSENSITIVITY IN THE SPINY LOBSTER, PANULIRUS ARGUS: STUDIES OF TAURINE SENSITIVE RECEPTORS

ZOLTAN M. FUZESSERY 1, WILLIAM E. S. CARR 1, and BARRY W. ACHE 1

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431; and C. V. Whitney Laboratory for Experimental Marine Biology and Medicine, Rt. 1, Box 121, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

1. Taurine sensitive receptors in the antennules of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, were identified electrophysiologically.

2. Recordings from single receptors revealed a narrow and consistent specificity when tested with taurine, taurine analogs and derivatives, and structurally related compounds.

3. Taurine was the most stimulatory compound tested. Threshold concentrations for 36 individual receptors ranged from 10-8 to 10-10 M.

4. The taurine analogs, hypotaurine and beta-alanine, were also very effective but the phosphonic acid analog of taurine was ineffective.

5. Regarding receptor specificity, receptor stimulation was greatest with compounds having single terminal basic (amine) and acidic groups separated by two carbon atoms. Compounds having terminal basic and acidic groups separated by three to five carbon atoms were also active. However, activity decreased with the distance of separation of charged groups.

6. Alpha-amino acids and compounds with terminal basic and acidic groups separated by only one carbon atom were virtually ineffective.

7. Receptor stimulation was markedly less with structurally related compounds that either lacked a terminal amine group, had additional amine or acidic groups, or had neutral side chains.

8. Dose/response relationships of four differentially stimulatory compounds (taurine, hypotaurine, beta-alanine and ugr-aminobutyric acid) applied to single receptors were compared and found to describe a series of roughly parallel lines. This implies that a less stimulatory compound effects receptor response in the same manner as a more stimulatory compound applied at a lower concentration.

9. The possible role of taurine in food finding, and the similarity of the specificity of antennular taurine receptors and taurine endoreceptors identified in various organisms are discussed.




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 Chem SensesHome page
J.A. Goldman and M.A.R. Koehl
Fluid Dynamic Design of Lobster Olfactory Organs: High Speed Kinematic Analysis of Antennule Flicking by Panulirus argus
Chem Senses, May 1, 2001; 26(4): 385 - 398.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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