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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

The Identification of Sea Lamprey Pheromones Using Bioassay-Guided Fractionation
Published on: July 17, 2018
Mixtures of Two Bile Alcohol Sulfates Function as a Proximity Pheromone in Sea Lamprey
Cory O Brant1, Mar Huertas1, Ke Li1
1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, 480 Wilson Road, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States of America.
Abstract:
Unique mixtures of pheromone components are commonly identified in insects, and have been shown to increase attractiveness towards conspecifics when reconstructed at the natural ratio released by the signaler. In previous field studies of pheromones that attract female sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus, L.), putative components of the male-released mating pheromone included the newly described bile alcohol 3,12-diketo-4,6-petromyzonene-24-sulfate (DkPES) and the well characterized 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate (3kPZS). Here, we show chemical evidence that unequivocally confirms the elucidated structure of DkPES, electrophysiological evidence that each component is independently detected by the olfactory epithelium, and behavioral evidence that mature female sea lamprey prefer artificial nests activated with a mixture that reconstructs the male-released component ratio of 30:1 (3kPZS:DkPES, molar:molar). In addition, we characterize search behavior (sinuosity of swim paths) of females approaching ratio treatment sources. These results suggest unique pheromone ratios may underlie reproductive isolating mechanisms in vertebrates, as well as provide utility in pheromone-integrated control of invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes.
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