title: How a sex pheromone might act at a concentration below 10(-16) M.
abstract: The sex-inducing pheromone of Volvox carteri is a glycoprotein that triggers development of males and females at a concentration below 10(-16) M. Evidence is presented for the existence of a novel mechanism of signal amplification operating within the extracellular matrix of this multicellular organism. A family of 70 kDa matrix glycoproteins denoted pherophorins bear a C-terminal domain being homologous to the sex-inducing pheromone. Under the influence of the pheromone, this domain is liberated by highly specific proteolysis.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl Biochemie I, Universität Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumper
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wenzl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Godl
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D000460:Chlorophyta; D004247:DNA; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D012724:Sex Attractants; D004247:DNA