Bauke’s paper on the chemical identity of Kairomone molecules has been published in Nature Chemical Biology!

Infochemicals play important roles in aquatic ecosystems, they modify food web interactions such as by inducing defenses in prey. Planktonic freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex forms neckteeth when chemical cues are released from its predator, the phantom midge larva Chaoborus. Chemical detective work allowed identification of the chemical identity of the so-called Chaoborus kairomone. They consist of fatty acids conjugated to the amino group of glutamine via the N-terminus. This identification of the kairomone opens opportunities to study this inducible defense system.

Further info: Bauke Albada, Helix room 8057 (just keep on going up), or bauke.albada@wur.nl

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