Sulfation is required for mobility of veliger larvae of Concholepas concholepas (Mollusca; Gastropoda; Muricidae)

Abstract

AbstractThe sulfation reaction seems to be a critical biochemical process during early steps of development. We have evaluated the effect of sulfation on the mobility of veliger larvae of the gastropod Concholepas concholepas. It was found that incubation of larvae in low‐sulfate artificial sea water had strong inhibitory effect on mobility. The use of sodium chlorate, a specific inhibitor of sulfation, also resulted in a strong inhibition of larval mobility. At the biochemical level, the synthesis of proteoglycans (PGs) and detergent‐soluble sulfoproteins and sulfolipids was specifically inhibited by chlorate, without affecting either total protein synthesis or phosphorylation. Intracellular levels of the sulfate donor 3′‐phosphoadenosine 5′‐phosphosulfate (PAPS) were decreased to 4% by chlorate treatment, indicating that this molecule is also involved in sulfation of marine invertebrates. Both effects of chlorate, the inhibition of sulfation and the larval mobility, were reversible. It is therefore concluded that sulfation is required for larval mobility in the mollusc C. concholepas. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.