Pheromone signalling in the mouse: role of urinary proteins and vomeronasal organ.
The lipocalin protein family is characterized in structure by a conserved hydrophobic pocket which can bind small volatile odorants. The Major Urinary Proteins (MUPs) are a class of lipocalins found in the urine of adult male mice which concentrate in the urine odorants which confer a characteristic odor. The behavioural as well as the endocrine effects of mouse urine and MUPs are briefly reviewed, suggesting a complex role is pheromonal communication. Some recent data on the molecular receptors of the vomeronasal organ further suggest a complex interaction with the MUP system.
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Istituto di Fisiologia Umana, Università di Padova, Italy. andreac@ux1.unipd.it
Mucignat
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Tirindelli
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D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009812:Odorants; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins; D011507:Proteinuria; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000502:physiology*
D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; D011506:Proteins; C035737:major urinary proteins