Transcriptomics of the flatworm, Planocera multitentaculata. Planocera multitentaculata

Planocera multitentaculata is a toxic flatworm that inhabits the seawater around Japan. This species is known to possess high concentrations of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) throughout its life cycle. In the larval stage, TTX has been localized primarily in the pharynx, while during the spawning stage, TTX is concentrated in the oocytes. These findings suggest that TTX functions in predation during the larval stage and protects the offspring during the spawning stage. To identify the peptide and protein toxins, except for TTX, from P. multitentaculata, we conducted transcriptome analysis.