Secondary Metabolites of Cladobranchia (Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia): Correlation with Food organisms and with the Functionality of Cnidosacs

• Antragstellerinnen: Professorin Dr. Gabriele M. König; Professorin Dr. Heike Wägele
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Biochemie und Physiologie der Tiere
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2011
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 53469515

The aim of the proposed project is to shed light on the evolution of the defensive system of an opisthobranch group, the Cladobranchia. Major defensive devices in other shell less opisthobranchs are the incorporation or de novo synthesis of natural products, sometimes stored in special organs. Whereas the biochemistry of several opistobranch taxa is well studied (e.g. Doridoidea, Sacoglossa, Anaspidea, and to a lesser extent Cephalaspidea), the Cladobranchia are neglected in that respect. Within Cladobranchia, the monophyletic taxon Aeolidoidea is known to use incorporated cnidocysts from their prey for own defense. This is discussed as a major driving force for speciation and an explanation for the success of the Aeolidoidea. The proposed project will focus on natural products in Cladobranchia in correlation with their food and the presence of cnidosacs with functional cnidocysts. For this purpose morphological, histological and biochemical studies will be performed and the obtained data analysed. The findings will finally be mapped onto a phylogenetic reconstruction of the Cladobranchia to understand evolution of different pathways of defensive strategies.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen