Binding-mechanism and sensitivity in gamete chemotaxis of the phaeophyte Cutleria multifida

Female gametes of the marine brown alga Cutleria multifida discharge multifidene into the water to attract the swimming males. The physicochemical principle of interaction between semiochemical and membrane receptor site is seen in mutual but complementary induced dipoles. Halogenated derivatives of multifidene with intact overall structure and stereochemistry but altered electronic properties were synthesized and assayed as lures. A direct correlation was observed between increasing polarizability and biological activity, thus proving the proposed mechanism. The low threshold concentration of this communication system (4 X 10(9) molecules/ml), together with a detailed knowledge of the gamete's architecture, swimming velocity and stimulus response time, indicates that very few, may be even single, molecules are able to trigger the sensomotoric chain. The rigidity of the natural signal molecule was recognized as an important element in inducing conformational fitting in the ligand/receptor complex.