Molecular cloning of newt sex pheromone precursor cDNAs: evidence for the existence of species-specific forms of pheromones.
Cloning of cDNA encoding a decapeptide pheromone (sodefrin) that attracts conspecific female newts was attempted. A cDNA clone encoding a protein consisting of 189 amino acid residues including a sodefrin sequence was isolated from a Cynops pyrrhogaster abdominal gland cDNA library. Likewise, a cDNA clone encoding a molecule comparable to the sodefrin precursor was obtained from a Cynops ensicauda abdominal gland cDNA library. This clone encoded a precursor protein of 192 amino acid residues, including a sodefrin-like peptide sequence with substitutions of two amino acid residues. This is the first report of a peptide pheromone precursor in vertebrates.
Iwata
T
T
Department of Biology, School of Education, Waseda University, Nishi-waseda 1-6-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Umezawa
K
K
Toyoda
F
F
Takahashi
N
N
Matsukawa
H
H
Yamamoto
K
K
Miura
S
S
Hayashi
H
H
Kikuyama
S
S
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000235:genetics*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013045:Species Specificity
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012724:Sex Attractants; C092479:sodefrin