Chemical and olfactory characterization of odorous compounds and their precursors in the parotoid gland secretion of the green tree frog, Litoria caerulea.
When stressed or challenged by a predator, the Australian green tree frog, Litoria caerulea, emits a characteristic nutty odor from its parotoid glands. This study identifies the source of the odor as the cyclic amide 2-pyrrolidone (2-PyrO). In addition, we demonstrate the presence of 2-PyrO's straight chain form, gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA, in the frog's glandular secretion and propose an odorant-precursor relationship. What role both compounds play in the frog's defensive strategy remains unknown. Prolonged exposure to the odor is shown to result in adverse effects that may be attributed to a GABAergic mechanism. It is our hypothesis, however, that the odor acts as an aposematic signal, indicating the toxicity of the frog's nonvolatile secretion.
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia 5005. benjamin.smith@uninc.ch
Benjamin P C
BP
Smith
Michael J
MJ
Tyler
Brian D
BD
Williams
Yoji
Y
Hayasaka
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000502:physiology*; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D009812:Odorants; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014835:Volatilization
D018757:GABA Modulators; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C028537:2-pyrrolidone