A male-derived volatile sex pheromone in nematodes identified through its mimicry by a predator
Matthew R. Gronquist, Xuan Wan, Daniel H. W. Leighton, Yuki Togawa, Marika Sagawa, Paul W. Sternberg, Frank C. Schroeder, Ryoji Shinya
The paper identifies methyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate (MMB) as a male-derived volatile sex pheromone in nematodes, showing it is attractive to females and hermaphrodites and mimics a predator's chemical cues.
Communications Biology · Jul 1, 2026Peer-reviewedAnimal Behavior & Cognition