Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39778157›Full record

ArticleG3 (Bethesda, Md.)2025

Decoding deception: the binding affinity of cuttlefish ink on shark smell receptors.

Colleen Lawless, Lauren E Simonitis, John A Finarelli, Graham M Hughes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in G3 (Bethesda, Md.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Colleen LawlessSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-4454-7994
Lauren E SimonitisDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
John A FinarelliSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Graham M HughesSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Funding

Ad Astra Studentship grantUniversity College DublinUniversity College Dublin Ad Astra grant
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chemical signaling can play a crucial role in predator-prey dynamics. Here, we present evidence that ink from the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) targets olfactory receptor proteins in sharks, potentially acting as a predator deterrent. We apply in silico 3D docking analysis to investigate the binding affinity of various odorant molecules to shark olfactory receptors of 2 shark species: cloudy catshark (Scyliorhinus torazame) and white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). Pavoninin-4 (a known shark repellent compound) displayed selectivity in binding to receptors in the white shark. In contrast, the primary component of cuttlefish ink, melanin, displayed the highest binding affinities to all shark olfactory receptor proteins in both species. Taurine, another important ink component, exhibited standard to strong bindings for both species. Trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal ("blood decenal"), an odorant associated with the smell of blood, displayed strong binding affinities to all shark olfactory receptors, similar to that of melanin. These findings provide new insights into the molecular interplay between cephalopod inking behavior and their shark predators, with cuttlefish ink likely exploiting the narrow band of the shark olfactory repertoire.

Indexed as

DecapodiformesReceptors, OdorantSharksAnimalsMolecular Docking SimulationOdorantsProtein BindingSmellReceptors, Odorantligand–receptor interactionolfactory genesprotein structure prediction

Identifiers

PMID39778157
PMCPMC11917480

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.