Natural ligands of hamster aphrodisin.
The chemical nature of vertebrate pheromones remains largely to be deciphered. Hamster aphrodisin is a rare instance of mammal proteinaceous sexual pheromone. This protein, found in vaginal secretions, facilitates the mounting behaviour of males via activation of a specialized sensory structure named the vomeronasal organ, which activates the accessory olfactory bulb. Since it might carry small pheromonal ligands due to its lipocalin structure, we analysed organic extracts from natural aphrodisin. We identified five predominant compounds specifically bound onto natural aphrodisin as 1-hexadecanol (44.7%), 1-octadecanol (19.5%), Z-9-octadecen-1-ol (18.2%), E-9-octadecen-1-ol (15.4%) and hexadecanoic acid (2.2%). Interestingly, these compounds are also described as part of insect pheromone blends, disclosing the continuing story of amazing coincidences of chemical communication shared by mammals and insects.
Briand
Loïc
L
Biochimie de l'Olfaction et de la Gustation, Neurobiologie de l'Olfaction et de la Prise Alimentaire, batiment 526, Domaine de Vilvert, F-78352, Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France.
Blon
Florence
F
Trotier
Didier
D
Pernollet
Jean-Claude
JC
D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D006224:Cricetinae; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000378:metabolism
D008024:Ligands; D010675:Pheromones; D011506:Proteins; D012724:Sex Attractants; C050082:aphrodisin protein, Mesocricetus auratus