ATP: A potential prey attractant evoking carnivory

Abstract

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is nearly universal as a carrier of chemical energy in metabolic pathways. This molecule is especially abundant in metabolically active tissues like muscle but decays rapidly to adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) as cells die. Here, I report that ATP stimulates carnivorous feeding by the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus, while AMP inhibits feeding. Because AMP levels rise as ATP levels fall during initial degradation of animal flesh, both ATP stimulation and AMP inhibition act to focus foraging for live and recently killed prey. The taste and smell of these nucleotides therefore indicate the freshness and edibility of food resources.