As climate change drives some starfish species into cooler waters, understanding molecules like ArBN could be crucial for mitigating their impact on shellfish farms.

The study suggests that bombesin-like molecules have regulated appetite for over 500 million years, indicating an evolutionary link between species, including humans and starfish.

Led by Professor Maurice Elphick and Dr. Olivier Mirabeau, the researchers discovered bombesin-like neurohormones in the genomes of the common starfish and related echinoderms.

Using mass spectrometry, the team successfully determined the molecular structure of ArBN, allowing for its synthesis and functional testing.

Dr. Weiling Huang's experiments demonstrated that ArBN causes the starfish stomach to retract and delays their feeding behavior, indicating its role in appetite regulation.

Behavioral tests further confirmed that ArBN induces stomach retraction in starfish and delays their feeding response, shedding light on their unique feeding behavior.

These findings emphasize the biological connections among different organisms, showcasing the ancient and shared mechanisms of appetite regulation.

Bombesin, first isolated from the fire-bellied toad in 1971, signals satiety and reduces meal size when injected into mammals, highlighting its role in appetite control.

The research opens up potential avenues for developing weight-loss drugs that mimic bombesin, while also addressing practical applications for managing starfish invasions in shellfish farming due to climate change.

A collaborative research team from Queen Mary University of London, the Institut Pasteur in Paris, and the University of Warwick has conducted a significant study on the evolutionary history of bombesin-like neurohormones.

They identified a specific bombesin-like gene in the common starfish (Asterias rubens), naming the molecule ArBN, which was synthesized for further investigation.

The study was supported by funding from the BBSRC, China Scholarship Council, and the Leverhulme Trust, underscoring the collaborative effort behind this important research.