title: A 3 kDa peptide is involved in the chemoattraction in vitro of the male Schistosoma mansoni to the female.
abstract: In vitro experiments on adult Schistosoma mansoni worms have shown the existence of mutual attraction between males and females mediated by factor(s) released by both sexes. Males were attracted to female-released factor(s), which was found in <30 kDa fractions. A combination of bioassays, size fractionations, chromatographic and chemical and enzymatic treatments were used to identify female-released factor(s) that attracted males. Boiling reduced the attraction of males towards female incubate. Male-attractant factor(s) was not in the female vomitus, and TLC showed the absence of lipids and carbohydrates in the female incubate. Male-attractant factor(s) was found to be sensitive to proteases and to be hydrophilic in nature. Using RP-HPLC, a 3260 Da peptide released by S. mansoni adult females that plays a role in attracting the males was identified, purified and partially characterized. A partial amino acid sequence <QVHHQK> of that peptide was obtained using MALDI peptide-MS and MALDI-TOF/TOF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases, R275, WBRB, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Amr M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ghaleb
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atwood
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales-Montor
authors.forename: Raymond T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Damian
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012724:Sex Attractants