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Wang WC, Li ZM, Chen Y, Zhang, JH, Zhang JX, Zhang YH. Species recognition and the divergences in the chemical and ultrasonic signals between two coexisting Rattus species. Curr Zool 2024; 70:531-538. [PMID: 39176055 PMCID: PMC11336677 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to recognize and differentiate between conspecifics and heterospecifics as well as their signals is critical for the coexistence of closely related species. In the genus Rattus, species are morphologically similar and multiple species often coexist. Here, we investigated the interspecific recognition and signal differentiation of two sympatric rat species, the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus, RN) and the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi, RT). In a two-way choice test, both RN and RT females showed a preference for conspecific male rats to heterospecific ones. RT females showed a significant preference for accessible urine of males of same species to those of other species, but not for the inaccessible urine. On the other hand, there were significant differences in the structural characteristics of the ultrasonic vocalization emitted by males of these two rat species. Sodium dodecyl sulphate‒polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‒PAGE) and isoelectric focusing electrophoresis unveiled that major urinary proteins (MUPs) in voided urine were more highly expressed in RN males versus RT males. The interspecific differences of urinary volatile compounds were also discussed. In conclusion, female rats had the ability to distinguish between males of either species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chao Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Hua Zhang,
- The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jian-Xu Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yao-Hua Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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2
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Macholán M, Daniszová K, Hiadlovská Z. The Expansion of House Mouse Major Urinary Protein Genes Likely Did Not Facilitate Commensalism with Humans. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2090. [PMID: 38003032 PMCID: PMC10671799 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse wild-derived strains (WDSs) combine the advantages of classical laboratory stocks and wild animals, and thus appear to be promising tools for diverse biomedical and evolutionary studies. We employed 18 WDSs representing three non-synanthropic species (Mus spretus, Mus spicilegus, and M. macedonicus) and three house mouse subspecies (Mus musculus musculus, M. m. domesticus, M. m. castaneus), which are all important human commensals to explore whether the number of major urinary protein (MUP) genes and their final protein levels in urine are correlated with the level of commensalism. Contrary to expectations, the MUP copy number (CN) and protein excretion in the strains derived from M. m. castaneus, which is supposed to be the strongest commensal, were not significantly different from the non-commensal species. Regardless of an overall tendency for higher MUP amounts in taxa with a higher CN, there was no significant correlation at the strain level. Our study thus suggests that expansion of the Mup cluster, which appeared before the house mouse diversification, is unlikely to facilitate commensalism with humans in three house mouse subspecies. Finally, we found considerable variation among con(sub)specific WDSs, warning against generalisations of results based on a few strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloš Macholán
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 601 77 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristina Daniszová
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Hiadlovská
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Stopková R, Matějková T, Dodoková A, Talacko P, Zacek P, Sedlacek R, Piálek J, Stopka P. Variation in mouse chemical signals is genetically controlled and environmentally modulated. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8573. [PMID: 37237091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35450-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In most mammals and particularly in mice, chemical communication relies on the detection of ethologically relevant fitness-related cues from other individuals. In mice, urine is the primary source of these signals, so we employed proteomics and metabolomics to identify key components of chemical signalling. We show that there is a correspondence between urinary volatiles and proteins in the representation of genetic background, sex and environment in two house mouse subspecies Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. We found that environment has a strong influence upon proteomic and metabolomic variation and that volatile mixtures better represent males while females have surprisingly more sex-biased proteins. Using machine learning and combined-omics techniques, we identified mixtures of metabolites and proteins that are associated with biological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romana Stopková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Matějková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alica Dodoková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Talacko
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Zacek
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radislav Sedlacek
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Piálek
- Research Facility Studenec, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Stopka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Prague, Czech Republic.
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4
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Zhang J, Wang X, Wang R, Chen G, Wang J, Feng J, Li Y, Yu Z, Xiao H. Rapamycin Treatment Alleviates Chronic GVHD-Induced Lupus Nephritis in Mice by Recovering IL-2 Production and Regulatory T Cells While Inhibiting Effector T Cells Activation. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030949. [PMID: 36979928 PMCID: PMC10045991 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we test the therapeutic effects of rapamycin in a murine model of SLE-like experimental lupus nephritis induced by chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Our results suggest that rapamycin treatment reduced autoantibody production, inhibited T lymphocyte and subsequent B cell activation, and reduced inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, thereby protecting renal function and alleviating histological lupus nephritis by reducing the occurrence of albuminuria. To explore the potential mechanism of rapamycin's reduction of kidney damage in mice with lupus nephritis, a series of functional assays were conducted. As expected, rapamycin remarkably inhibited the lymphocytes' proliferation within the morbid mice. Interestingly, significantly increased proportions of peripheral CD4+FOXP3+ and CD4+CD25high T cells were observed in rapamycin-treated group animals, suggesting an up-regulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the periphery by rapamycin treatment. Furthermore, consistent with the results regarding changes in mRNA abundance in kidney by real-time PCR analysis, intracellular cytokine staining demonstrated that rapamycin treatment remarkably diminished the secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10, in splenocytes of the morbid mice. However, the production of IL-2 from splenocytes in rapamycin-treated mice was significantly higher than in the cells from control group animals. These findings suggest that rapamycin treatment might alleviate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like experimental lupus nephritis through the recovery of IL-2 production, which promotes the expansion of regulatory T cells while inhibiting effector T cell activation. Our studies demonstrated that, unlike other commonly used immunosuppressants, rapamycin does not appear to interfere with tolerance induction but permits the expansion and suppressive function of Tregs in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Frontier Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Xun Wang
- Department of Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Radiobiology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Renxi Wang
- Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing 100054, China
| | - Guojiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jiannan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zuyin Yu
- Department of Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Radiobiology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - He Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
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Yamaguchi Y, Namgung J, Nagata J, Kawasaki T, Hara A, Todo T, Hiramatsu N. Identification and characterization of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D 2 synthase homologs in the urine of male rockfish. Gene X 2023; 854:147093. [PMID: 36476662 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.147093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) and its relatives are viviparous marine fish. Males produce urinary proteins during the copulation season; however, the identity of these proteins was unknown. In this study, we focused on high-molecular-weight urinary proteins (HMWups) in male black rockfish. The HMWups were identified by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of urine. In silico analyses of RNA-seq data predicted the tissue distribution of candidate HMWup transcripts and their gene structures. Candidate cDNAs were cloned and a recombinant protein of a major candidate was prepared. Western blotting of urine using an antiserum against the recombinant protein was performed to reconfirm the LC-MS/MS results. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were employed to validate the prediction by RNA-seq and identify the cells producing HMWups, respectively. LC-MS/MS, in conjunction with Western blotting and cDNA cloning, identified the HMWups as lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (l-PGDS) homologs. RNA-seq analyses and qRT-PCR revealed that the l-PGDS homolog transcripts were dominantly expressed in the testis and male kidney; Sertoli cells and epithelial cells in the renal tubules were immunoreactive. These results indicated that major protein components in the urine of male black rockfish are l-PGDS homologs, potentially produced by the renal tubules in the kidney. Male rockfish (genus Sebastes) are thought to release unknown pheromone substances during mating behavior. The knowledge and tools obtained in this study empower research into the role(s) of HMWups in pheromone systems underlying rockfish reproduction. No protein-type teleost pheromone has heretofore been discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yo Yamaguchi
- Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Jin Namgung
- Education & Research Group for Future Strategy of Aquatic Life Industry, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Nagata
- Division of Marine Life Science, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Takuma Kawasaki
- Mariculture Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Department, Hokkaido Research Organization, 1-156-3 Funami, Muroran, Hokkaido 051-0013, Japan
| | - Akihiko Hara
- Division of Marine Life Science, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Takashi Todo
- Division of Marine Life Science, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Naoshi Hiramatsu
- Division of Marine Life Science, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan.
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6
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Gu S, Wu G, Lu D, Wang Y, Tang L, Zhang W. Human kidney organoids model of Esculentoside A nephrotoxicity to investigate the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition via STING signaling. Toxicol Lett 2022; 373:172-183. [PMID: 36460195 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Radix Phytolaccae (RP) has a long medicinal history and is commonly used to treat systemic edema and ascites in Asia. Although RP is known to cause nephrotoxicity, the role of its main constituent, Esculentoside A (EsA), in nephrotoxicity remains undetermined. We used kidney organoids derived from human inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model EsA nephrotoxicity accurately. Kidney organoids were differentiated and treated with EsA at doses of 0, 15, 30, or 60 μM for 48 h. The in vitro model was compared to a mouse model of EsA nephrotoxicity (intraperitoneally injected, 25 mg·kg-1). The mechanisms were investigated. Cell viability decreased dose-dependently after treatment with EsA. As polarity was lost, tubular cells decreased, similar to mouse EsA nephrotoxicity with upregulated vimentin expression and a stimulator of the interferon gene (STING). Furthermore, 60 μM EsA could induce endothelial inflammation, lead to mitochondrial damage and activate STING by translocating mtDNA into the cytoplasm to develop an inflammatory cascade and destroy renal endothelial cells with interstitial changes. The data suggest that kidney organoids derived from iPSCs are promising for investigating nephrotoxicity. EsA nephrotoxicity involves the epithelial-mesenchymal transition via STING signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Gu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, PR China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, 201203, PR China
| | - Gaosong Wu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, PR China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, 201203, PR China
| | - Dong Lu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, PR China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, 201203, PR China
| | - Yu Wang
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Shanghai Institute for Food and Drug Control, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Liming Tang
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Shanghai Institute for Food and Drug Control, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, PR China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, 201203, PR China.
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7
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Harmonizing Labeling and Analytical Strategies to Obtain Protein Turnover Rates in Intact Adult Animals. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100252. [PMID: 35636728 PMCID: PMC9249856 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in the abundance of individual proteins in the proteome can be elicited by modulation of protein synthesis (the rate of input of newly synthesized proteins into the protein pool) or degradation (the rate of removal of protein molecules from the pool). A full understanding of proteome changes therefore requires a definition of the roles of these two processes in proteostasis, collectively known as protein turnover. Because protein turnover occurs even in the absence of overt changes in pool abundance, turnover measurements necessitate monitoring the flux of stable isotope–labeled precursors through the protein pool such as labeled amino acids or metabolic precursors such as ammonium chloride or heavy water. In cells in culture, the ability to manipulate precursor pools by rapid medium changes is simple, but for more complex systems such as intact animals, the approach becomes more convoluted. Individual methods bring specific complications, and the suitability of different methods has not been comprehensively explored. In this study, we compare the turnover rates of proteins across four mouse tissues, obtained from the same inbred mouse strain maintained under identical husbandry conditions, measured using either [13C6]lysine or [2H2]O as the labeling precursor. We show that for long-lived proteins, the two approaches yield essentially identical measures of the first-order rate constant for degradation. For short-lived proteins, there is a need to compensate for the slower equilibration of lysine through the precursor pools. We evaluate different approaches to provide that compensation. We conclude that both labels are suitable, but careful determination of precursor enrichment kinetics in amino acid labeling is critical and has a considerable influence on the numerical values of the derived protein turnover rates. Controlled comparison of heavy water or amino acid labeling for protein turnover. Delays in amino acid precursor labeling mostly affect high turnover proteins Both methods produced similar turnover rates after adjustment of precursor kinetics. Recommendations for analytical workflows for protein turnover studies in animals.
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Penn DJ, Zala SM, Luzynski KC. Regulation of Sexually Dimorphic Expression of Major Urinary Proteins. Front Physiol 2022; 13:822073. [PMID: 35431992 PMCID: PMC9008510 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.822073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Male house mice excrete large amounts of protein in their urinary scent marks, mainly composed of Major Urinary Proteins (MUPs), and these lipocalins function as pheromones and pheromone carriers. Here, we review studies on sexually dimorphic MUP expression in house mice, including the proximate mechanisms controlling MUP gene expression and their adaptive functions. Males excrete 2 to 8 times more urinary protein than females, though there is enormous variation in gene expression across loci in both sexes. MUP expression is dynamically regulated depending upon a variety of factors. Males regulate MUP expression according to social status, whereas females do not, and males regulate expression depending upon health and condition. Male-biased MUP expression is regulated by pituitary secretion of growth hormone (GH), which binds receptors in the liver, activating the JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathway, chromatin accessibility, and MUP gene transcription. Pulsatile male GH secretion is feminized by several factors, including caloric restriction, microbiota depletion, and aging, which helps explain condition-dependent MUP expression. If MUP production has sex-specific fitness optima, then this should generate sexual antagonism over allelic expression (intra-locus sexual conflict) selectively favoring sexually dimorphic expression. MUPs influence the sexual attractiveness of male urinary odor and increased urinary protein excretion is correlated with the reproductive success of males but not females. This finding could explain the selective maintenance of sexually dimorphic MUP expression. Producing MUPs entails energetic costs, but increased excretion may reduce the net energetic costs and predation risks from male scent marking as well as prolong the release of chemical signals. MUPs may also provide physiological benefits, including regulating metabolic rate and toxin removal, which may have sex-specific effects on survival. A phylogenetic analysis on the origins of male-biased MUP gene expression in Mus musculus suggests that this sexual dimorphism evolved by increasing male MUP expression rather than reducing female expression.
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9
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Pelosi P, Knoll W. Odorant-binding proteins of mammals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:20-44. [PMID: 34480392 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) of vertebrates belong to the lipocalin superfamily and perform a dual function: solubilizing and ferrying volatile pheromones to the olfactory receptors, and complexing the same molecules in specialized glands and assisting their release into the environment. Within vertebrates, to date they have been reported only in mammals, apart from two studies on amphibians. Based on the small number of OBPs expressed in each species, on their sites of production outside the olfactory area and their presence in biological fluids known to be pheromone carriers, such as urine, saliva and sexual secretions, we conclude that OBPs of mammals are specifically dedicated to pheromonal communication. This assumption is further supported by the observation that some OBPs present in biological secretions are endowed with their own pheromonal activity, adding renewed interest to these proteins. Another novel piece of evidence is the recent discovery that glycosylation and phosphorylation can modulate the binding activity of these proteins, improving their affinity to pheromones and narrowing their specificity. A comparison with insects and other arthropods shows a completely different scenario. While mammalian OBPs are specifically tuned to pheromones, those of insects, which are completely different in sequence and structure, include carriers for general odorants in addition to those dedicated to pheromones. Additionally, whereas mammals adopted a single family of carrier proteins for chemical communication, insects and other arthropods are endowed with several families of semiochemical-binding proteins. Here, we review the literature on the structural and functional properties of vertebrate OBPs, summarize the most interesting new findings and suggest possible exciting future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Pelosi
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz Straße 24, Tulln, 3430, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Knoll
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz Straße 24, Tulln, 3430, Austria
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10
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Mindaye ST, Sun C, Esfahani SAZ, Matsui EC, Sheehan MJ, Rabin RL, Slater JE. Diversity and complexity of mouse allergens in urine, house dust, and allergen extracts assessed with an immuno-allergomic approach. Allergy 2021; 76:3723-3732. [PMID: 33864689 DOI: 10.1111/all.14860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mouse allergy is an important cause of indoor asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The major mouse allergen, Mus m 1, is a complex of homologous pheromone-binding lipocalins called major urinary proteins (MUPs). METHODS We analyzed the proteome of MUPs in mouse urine, commercial mouse epithelial extracts, and environmental samples using several approaches. These include as follows: two-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting; liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HRMS); multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry; and LC/HRMS analysis of glycans at the N-66 residue of MUP3. RESULTS Albumin is predominant in the extracts, while MUPs are predominant in urine. LC/HRMS of 4 mouse allergen extracts revealed surprising heterogeneity. Of 22 known mouse MUPs, only 6 (MUP3, MUP4, MUP5, MUP13, MUP20, and MUP21) could be identified with MRM using unique peptides. Assessment of MUP content in urine, extracts, and dust samples showed good correlation between MRM and other methods working with different detection principles. All 6 identifiable MUPs were found in electrophoretically separated urine bands, but only MUP3 and MUP20 were above LOQ in unseparated mouse urine, and only MUP3, MUP4, and MUP20 were found in mouse epithelial extracts. Glycan heterogeneity was noted among 4 individual inbred mice: of 13 glycan structures detected, 8 were unique to one mouse, and only 2 glycan modifications were present in all 4 mice. CONCLUSIONS Using mass spectrometry and MRM, mouse allergen extracts and urine samples are shown to be complex and heterogeneous. The efficacy and safety of commercial mouse allergen extracts will be improved with better controls of allergen content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel T. Mindaye
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products Food and Drug Administration Silver Spring MD USA
| | - Carl Sun
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products Food and Drug Administration Silver Spring MD USA
| | - Sayyed Amin Zarkesh Esfahani
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products Food and Drug Administration Silver Spring MD USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Matsui
- Department of Population Health and Pediatrics Dell Medical School The University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
| | - Michael J. Sheehan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior Cornell University Ithaca NY USA
| | - Ronald L. Rabin
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products Food and Drug Administration Silver Spring MD USA
| | - Jay E. Slater
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products Food and Drug Administration Silver Spring MD USA
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11
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Zhang YH, Zhao L, Fu SH, Wang ZS, Zhang JX. Male pheromones and their reception by females are co-adapted to affect mating success in two subspecies of brown rats. Curr Zool 2021; 67:371-382. [PMID: 34671704 PMCID: PMC8521721 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pheromonal communication plays a key role in the sociosexual behavior of rodents. The coadaptation between pheromones and chemosensory systems has been well illustrated in insects but poorly investigated in rodents and other mammals. We aimed to investigate whether coadaptation between male pheromones and female reception might have occurred in brown rats Rattus norvegicus. We recently reported that major urinary protein (MUP) pheromones are associated with male mating success in a brown rat subspecies, R. n. humiliatus (Rnh). Here, we discovered that MUPs were less polymorphic and occurred at much lower concentrations in males of a parapatric subspecies, R. n. caraco (Rnc), than in Rnh males, and found no association between pheromones and paternity success. Moreover, the observation of Rnc males that experienced chronic dyadic encounters and established dominance–submission relationships revealed that the dominant males achieved greater mating success than the subordinate males, but their MUP levels did not differ by social status. These findings suggest that male mating success in Rnc rats is related to social rank rather than to pheromone levels and that low concentration of MUPs might not be a reliable signal for mate choice in Rnc rats, which is different from the findings obtained in Rnh rats. In addition, compared with Rnh females, Rnc females exhibited reduced expression of pheromone receptor genes, and a lower number of vomeronasal receptor neurons were activated by MUP pheromones, which imply that the female chemosensory reception of pheromones might be structurally and functionally coadapted with male pheromone signals in brown rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shi-Hui Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,College of Life Science, Hebei University, Hebei Province, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Zhen-Shan Wang
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Hebei Province, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Jian-Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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12
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Bansal R, Nagel M, Stopkova R, Sofer Y, Kimchi T, Stopka P, Spehr M, Ben-Shaul Y. Do all mice smell the same? Chemosensory cues from inbred and wild mouse strains elicit stereotypic sensory representations in the accessory olfactory bulb. BMC Biol 2021; 19:133. [PMID: 34182994 PMCID: PMC8240315 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01064-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background For many animals, chemosensory cues are vital for social and defensive interactions and are primarily detected and processed by the vomeronasal system (VNS). These cues are often inherently associated with ethological meaning, leading to stereotyped behaviors. Thus, one would expect consistent representation of these stimuli across different individuals. However, individuals may express different arrays of vomeronasal sensory receptors and may vary in the pattern of connections between those receptors and projection neurons in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). In the first part of this study, we address the ability of individuals to form consistent representations despite these potential sources of variability. The second part of our study is motivated by the fact that the majority of research on VNS physiology involves the use of stimuli derived from inbred animals. Yet, it is unclear whether neuronal representations of inbred-derived stimuli are similar to those of more ethologically relevant wild-derived stimuli. Results First, we compared sensory representations to inbred, wild-derived, and wild urine stimuli in the AOBs of males from two distinct inbred strains, using them as proxies for individuals. We found a remarkable similarity in stimulus representations across the two strains. Next, we compared AOB neuronal responses to inbred, wild-derived, and wild stimuli, again using male inbred mice as subjects. Employing various measures of neuronal activity, we show that wild-derived and wild stimuli elicit responses that are broadly similar to those from inbred stimuli: they are not considerably stronger or weaker, they show similar levels of sexual dimorphism, and when examining population-level activity, cluster with inbred mouse stimuli. Conclusions Despite strain-specific differences and apparently random connectivity, the AOB can maintain stereotypic sensory representations for broad stimulus categories, providing a substrate for common stereotypical behaviors. In addition, despite many generations of inbreeding, AOB representations capture the key ethological features (i.e., species and sex) of wild-derived and wild counterparts. Beyond these broad similarities, representations of stimuli from wild mice are nevertheless distinct from those elicited by inbred mouse stimuli, suggesting that laboratory inbreeding has indeed resulted in marked modifications of urinary secretions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01064-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohini Bansal
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maximilian Nagel
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Romana Stopkova
- BIOCEV group, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Pavel Stopka
- BIOCEV group, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marc Spehr
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yoram Ben-Shaul
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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13
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Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Alters the Expression of Male Mouse Scent Proteins. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061180. [PMID: 34205512 PMCID: PMC8234142 DOI: 10.3390/v13061180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mature male mice produce a particularly high concentration of major urinary proteins (MUPs) in their scent marks that provide identity and status information to conspecifics. Darcin (MUP20) is inherently attractive to females and, by inducing rapid associative learning, leads to specific attraction to the individual male’s odour and location. Other polymorphic central MUPs, produced at much higher abundance, bind volatile ligands that are slowly released from a male’s scent marks, forming the male’s individual odour that females learn. Here, we show that infection of C57BL/6 males with LCMV WE variants (v2.2 or v54) alters MUP expression according to a male’s infection status and ability to clear the virus. MUP output is substantially reduced during acute adult infection with LCMV WE v2.2 and when males are persistently infected with LCMV WE v2.2 or v54. Infection differentially alters expression of darcin and, particularly, suppresses expression of a male’s central MUP signature. However, following clearance of acute v2.2 infection through a robust virus-specific CD8 cytotoxic T cell response that leads to immunity to the virus, males regain their normal mature male MUP pattern and exhibit enhanced MUP output by 30 days post-infection relative to uninfected controls. We discuss the likely impact of these changes in male MUP signals on female attraction and mate selection. As LCMV infection during pregnancy can substantially reduce embryo survival and lead to lifelong infection in surviving offspring, we speculate that females use LCMV-induced changes in MUP expression both to avoid direct infection from a male and to select mates able to develop immunity to local variants that will be inherited by their offspring.
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14
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Suzuki O, Koura M, Uchio-Yamada K, Sasaki M. Urinary protein analysis in mice lacking major urinary proteins. Exp Anim 2021; 70:406-411. [PMID: 33883349 PMCID: PMC8390313 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.21-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse urine contains major urinary proteins (MUPs) that are not found in human urine. Therefore, even healthy mice exhibit proteinuria, unlike healthy humans, making it challenging to use mice as models for human diseases. It was also unknown whether dipsticks for urinalysis could measure protein concentrations precisely in urine containing MUPs. To resolve these problems, we produced MUP-knockout (Mup-KO) mice by removing the Mup gene cluster using Cas9 proteins and two guide RNAs and characterized the urinary proteins in these mice. We measured the urinary protein concentrations in Mup-KO and wild-type mice using a protein quantitation kit and dipsticks. We also examined the urinary protein composition using SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). The urinary protein concentration was significantly lower (P<0.001) in Mup-KO mice (17.9 ± 1.8 mg/dl, mean ± SD, n=3) than in wild-type mice (73.7 ± 8.2 mg/dl, n=3). This difference was not reflected in the dipstick values, perhaps due to the low sensitivity to MUPs. This suggests that dipsticks have limited ability to measure changes in MUPs with precision. SDS-PAGE and 2DE confirmed that Mup-KO mice, like humans, had no MUPs in their urine, whereas wild-type mice had abundant MUPs in their urine. The absence of the masking effect of MUPs in 2DE would enable clear comparisons of urinary proteins, especially low-molecular-weight proteins. Thus, Mup-KO mice may provide a useful model for human urinalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Suzuki
- Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka 568-0085, Japan
| | - Minako Koura
- Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka 568-0085, Japan
| | - Kozue Uchio-Yamada
- Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka 568-0085, Japan
| | - Mitsuho Sasaki
- Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka 568-0085, Japan
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15
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Dytham C, Thom MDF. Population fragmentation drives up genetic diversity in signals of individual identity. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael D. F. Thom
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Univ. of Plymouth PL4 8AA Plymouth UK
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16
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Hunnicutt KE, Tiley GP, Williams RC, Larsen PA, Blanco MB, Rasoloarison RM, Campbell CR, Zhu K, Weisrock DW, Matsunami H, Yoder AD. Comparative Genomic Analysis of the Pheromone Receptor Class 1 Family (V1R) Reveals Extreme Complexity in Mouse Lemurs (Genus, Microcebus) and a Chromosomal Hotspot across Mammals. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 12:3562-3579. [PMID: 31555816 PMCID: PMC6944220 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory gene families are of special interest for both what they can tell us about molecular evolution and what they imply as mediators of social communication. The vomeronasal type-1 receptors (V1Rs) have often been hypothesized as playing a fundamental role in driving or maintaining species boundaries given their likely function as mediators of intraspecific mate choice, particularly in nocturnal mammals. Here, we employ a comparative genomic approach for revealing patterns of V1R evolution within primates, with a special focus on the small-bodied nocturnal mouse and dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (genera Microcebus and Cheirogaleus, respectively). By doubling the existing genomic resources for strepsirrhine primates (i.e. the lemurs and lorises), we find that the highly speciose and morphologically cryptic mouse lemurs have experienced an elaborate proliferation of V1Rs that we argue is functionally related to their capacity for rapid lineage diversification. Contrary to a previous study that found equivalent degrees of V1R diversity in diurnal and nocturnal lemurs, our study finds a strong correlation between nocturnality and V1R elaboration, with nocturnal lemurs showing elaborate V1R repertoires and diurnal lemurs showing less diverse repertoires. Recognized subfamilies among V1Rs show unique signatures of diversifying positive selection, as might be expected if they have each evolved to respond to specific stimuli. Furthermore, a detailed syntenic comparison of mouse lemurs with mouse (genus Mus) and other mammalian outgroups shows that orthologous mammalian subfamilies, predicted to be of ancient origin, tend to cluster in a densely populated region across syntenic chromosomes that we refer to as a V1R "hotspot."
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsie E Hunnicutt
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
| | - George P Tiley
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rachel C Williams
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke Lemur Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Peter A Larsen
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota
| | | | - Rodin M Rasoloarison
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Centre, Göttingen, Germany
- Département de Biologie Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - C Ryan Campbell
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kevin Zhu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - David W Weisrock
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Hiroaki Matsunami
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Anne D Yoder
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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17
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Identification of potential chemosignals in the European water vole Arvicola terrestris. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18378. [PMID: 31804568 PMCID: PMC6895148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54935-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The water vole Arvicola terrestris is endemic to Europe where its outbreak generates severe economic losses for farmers. Our project aimed at characterising putative chemical signals used by this species, to develop new sustainable methods for population control that could also be used for this species protection in Great Britain. The water vole, as well as other rodents, uses specific urination sites as territorial and sex pheromone markers, still unidentified. Lateral scent glands and urine samples were collected from wild males and females caught in the field, at different periods of the year. Their volatile composition was analysed for each individual and not on pooled samples, revealing a specific profile of flank glands in October and a specific profile of urinary volatiles in July. The urinary protein content appeared more contrasted as males secrete higher levels of a lipocalin than females, whenever the trapping period. We named this protein arvicolin. Male and female liver transcript sequencing did not identify any expression of other odorant-binding protein sequence. This work demonstrates that even in absence of genome, identification of chemical signals from wild animals is possible and could be helpful in strategies of species control and protection.
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18
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Barabas AJ, Aryal UK, Gaskill BN. Proteome characterization of used nesting material and potential protein sources from group housed male mice, Mus musculus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17524. [PMID: 31772257 PMCID: PMC6879570 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53903-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory mice (Mus musculus) communicate a variety of social messages through olfactory cues and it is often speculated that these cues are preserved in nesting material. Based on these speculations, a growing number of husbandry recommendations support preserving used nests at cage cleaning to maintain familiar odors in the new cage. However, the content of used nesting material has never been chemically analyzed. Here we present the first comprehensive proteome profile of used nesting material. Nests from cages of group housed male mice contain a variety of proteins that primarily originate from saliva, plantar sweat, and urine sources. Most notably, a large proportion of proteins found in used nesting material belong to major urinary protein (“MUP”) and odorant binding protein (“OBP”) families. Both protein families send messages about individual identity and bind volatile compounds that further contribute to identity cues. Overall, this data supports current recommendations to preserve used nesting material at cage cleaning to maintain odor familiarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Barabas
- Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Uma K Aryal
- Purdue Proteomics Facility, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Brianna N Gaskill
- Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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19
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Sheehan MJ, Campbell P, Miller CH. Evolutionary patterns of major urinary protein scent signals in house mice and relatives. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:3587-3601. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Polly Campbell
- Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology University of California – Riverside Riverside CA USA
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20
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Gómez-Baena G, Armstrong SD, Halstead JO, Prescott M, Roberts SA, McLean L, Mudge JM, Hurst JL, Beynon RJ. Molecular complexity of the major urinary protein system of the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10757. [PMID: 31341188 PMCID: PMC6656916 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46950-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Major urinary proteins (MUP) are the major component of the urinary protein fraction in house mice (Mus spp.) and rats (Rattus spp.). The structure, polymorphism and functions of these lipocalins have been well described in the western European house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus), clarifying their role in semiochemical communication. The complexity of these roles in the mouse raises the question of similar functions in other rodents, including the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus. Norway rats express MUPs in urine but information about specific MUP isoform sequences and functions is limited. In this study, we present a detailed molecular characterization of the MUP proteoforms expressed in the urine of two laboratory strains, Wistar Han and Brown Norway, and wild caught animals, using a combination of manual gene annotation, intact protein mass spectrometry and bottom-up mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches. Cluster analysis shows the existence of only 10 predicted mup genes. Further, detailed sequencing of the urinary MUP isoforms reveals a less complex pattern of primary sequence polymorphism in the rat than the mouse. However, unlike the mouse, rat MUPs exhibit added complexity in the form of post-translational modifications, including the phosphorylation of Ser4 in some isoforms, and exoproteolytic trimming of specific isoforms. Our results raise the possibility that urinary MUPs may have different roles in rat chemical communication than those they play in the house mouse. Shotgun proteomics data are available via ProteomExchange with identifier PXD013986.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Gómez-Baena
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L697ZB, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart D Armstrong
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L697ZB, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Josiah O Halstead
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Prescott
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L697ZB, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A Roberts
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn McLean
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L697ZB, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan M Mudge
- EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
| | - Jane L Hurst
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J Beynon
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L697ZB, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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21
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Kameoka Y, Kishi F, Koura M, Yamakawa Y, Nagasawa R, Ito F, Matsuda J, Suzuki O, Nakayama T, Suzuki K. Efficacy of a recombinant single-chain fragment variable region, VasSF, as a new drug for vasculitis. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2019; 13:555-568. [PMID: 30787596 PMCID: PMC6368128 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s188651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis is a pauci-immune disease with the inflammation of the small blood vessels. The efficacies of antibody drugs for induction therapies of vasculitis vary among cases. Here, we developed a novel clone of a single chain Fv region (ScFv) with vasculitis-specific therapeutic potential. Materials and methods The clone, termed VasSF, was selected from our Escherichia coli expression library of recombinant human ScFv based on the therapeutic efficacy in an SCG/Kj mouse model of MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis (MAAV), such as improvement of the urinary score and decreased crescent formation in glomeruli, granulomatous in lung, MPO-ANCA biomarkers, the anti-moesin antibody, and some cytokine levels. Results We identified vasculitis-associated apolipoprotein A-II (VAP2) as a target molecule of the clone and confirmed the independently-established VAP2 antibodies were also therapeutic in SCG/Kj mice. In MAAV, MPO-ANCA and cytokines stimulate neutrophils by facilitating heterodimer formation of VAP2 with apolipoprotein A-I in HDL. Conclusion VasSF would constitute a novel antibody drug for vasculitis by suppressing the heterodimer formation of the apolipoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Kameoka
- Department of Research and Development, A-CLIP Institute, Ltd., Chiba, Japan,
| | - Fukuko Kishi
- Department of Research and Development, A-CLIP Institute, Ltd., Chiba, Japan,
| | - Minako Koura
- Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yamakawa
- Department of Research and Development, A-CLIP Institute, Ltd., Chiba, Japan,
| | - Rora Nagasawa
- Department of Research and Development, A-CLIP Institute, Ltd., Chiba, Japan,
| | - Fuyu Ito
- Asia International Institute of Infectious Disease Control, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junichiro Matsuda
- Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Osamu Suzuki
- Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshinori Nakayama
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuo Suzuki
- Department of Research and Development, A-CLIP Institute, Ltd., Chiba, Japan, .,Asia International Institute of Infectious Disease Control, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.,Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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22
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Holy TE. The Accessory Olfactory System: Innately Specialized or Microcosm of Mammalian Circuitry? Annu Rev Neurosci 2018; 41:501-525. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-080317-061916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, the accessory olfactory system is a distinct circuit that has received attention for its role in detecting and responding to pheromones. While the neuroscientific investigation of this system is comparatively new, recent advances and its compact size have made it an attractive model for developing an end-to-end understanding of such questions as regulation of essential behaviors, plasticity, and individual recognition. Recent discoveries have indicated a need to reevaluate our conception of this system, suggesting that ( a) physical principles—rather than biological necessity—play an underappreciated role in its raison d'être and that ( b) the anatomy of downstream projections is not dominated by unique specializations but instead consists of an abbreviated cortical/basal ganglia motif reminiscent of other sensorimotor systems. These observations suggest that the accessory olfactory system distinguishes itself primarily by the physicochemical properties of its ligands, but its architecture is otherwise a microcosm of mammalian neurocircuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E. Holy
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63132, USA
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23
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Loxley GM, Unsworth J, Turton MJ, Jebb A, Lilley KS, Simpson DM, Rigden DJ, Hurst JL, Beynon RJ. Glareosin: a novel sexually dimorphic urinary lipocalin in the bank vole, Myodes glareolus. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.170135. [PMID: 28878040 PMCID: PMC5627053 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The urine of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) contains substantial quantities of a small protein that is expressed at much higher levels in males than females, and at higher levels in males in the breeding season. This protein was purified and completely sequenced at the protein level by mass spectrometry. Leucine/isoleucine ambiguity was completely resolved by metabolic labelling, monitoring the incorporation of dietary deuterated leucine into specific sites in the protein. The predicted mass of the sequenced protein was exactly consonant with the mass of the protein measured in bank vole urine samples, correcting for the formation of two disulfide bonds. The sequence of the protein revealed that it was a lipocalin related to aphrodisin and other odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), but differed from all OBPs previously described. The pattern of secretion in urine used for scent marking by male bank voles, and the similarity to other lipocalins used as chemical signals in rodents, suggest that this protein plays a role in male sexual and/or competitive communication. We propose the name glareosin for this novel protein to reflect the origin of the protein and to emphasize the distinction from known OBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M Loxley
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Jennifer Unsworth
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Michael J Turton
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Alexandra Jebb
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Kathryn S Lilley
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Deborah M Simpson
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Daniel J Rigden
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Jane L Hurst
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Robert J Beynon
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
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24
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Roberts SA, Prescott MC, Davidson AJ, McLean L, Beynon RJ, Hurst JL. Individual odour signatures that mice learn are shaped by involatile major urinary proteins (MUPs). BMC Biol 2018; 16:48. [PMID: 29703213 PMCID: PMC5921788 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0512-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reliable recognition of individuals requires phenotypic identity signatures that are both individually distinctive and appropriately stable over time. Individual-specific vocalisations or visual patterning are well documented among birds and some mammals, whilst odours play a key role in social recognition across many vertebrates and invertebrates. Less well understood, though, is whether individuals are recognised through variation in cues that arise incidentally from a wide variety of genetic and non-genetic differences between individuals, or whether animals evolve distinctive polymorphic signals to advertise identity reliably. As a bioassay to understand the derivation of individual-specific odour signatures, we use female attraction to the individual odours of male house mice (Mus musculus domesticus), learned on contact with a male’s scent marks. Results Learned volatile odour signatures are determined predominantly by individual differences in involatile major urinary protein (MUP) signatures, a specialised set of communication proteins that mice secrete in their urine. Recognition of odour signatures in genetically distinct mice depended on differences in individual MUP genotype. Direct manipulation using recombinant MUPs confirmed predictable changes in volatile signature recognition according to the degree of matching between MUP profiles and the learned urine template. Both the relative amount of the male-specific MUP pheromone darcin, which induces odour learning, and other MUP isoforms influenced learned odour signatures. By contrast, odour recognition was not significantly influenced by individual major histocompatibility complex genotype. MUP profiles shape volatile odour signatures through isoform-specific differences in binding and release of urinary volatiles from scent deposits, such that volatile signatures were recognised from the urinary protein fraction alone. Manipulation using recombinant MUPs led to quantitative changes in the release of known MUP ligands from scent deposits, with MUP-specific and volatile-specific effects. Conclusions Despite assumptions that many genes contribute to odours that can be used to recognise individuals, mice have evolved a polymorphic combinatorial MUP signature that shapes distinctive volatile signatures in their scent. Such specific signals may be more prevalent within complex body odours than previously realised, contributing to the evolution of phenotypic diversity within species. However, differences in selection may also result in species-specific constraints on the ability to recognise individuals through complex body scents. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0512-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Roberts
- Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Mark C Prescott
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Amanda J Davidson
- Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Lynn McLean
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Robert J Beynon
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Jane L Hurst
- Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK.
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Kuntová B, Stopková R, Stopka P. Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiling Revealed High Proportions of Odorant Binding and Antimicrobial Defense Proteins in Olfactory Tissues of the House Mouse. Front Genet 2018; 9:26. [PMID: 29459883 PMCID: PMC5807349 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian olfaction depends on chemosensory neurons of the main olfactory epithelia (MOE), and/or of the accessory olfactory epithelia in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Thus, we have generated the VNO and MOE transcriptomes and the nasal cavity proteome of the house mouse, Mus musculus musculus. Both transcriptomes had low levels of sexual dimorphisms, while the soluble proteome of the nasal cavity revealed high levels of sexual dimorphism similar to that previously reported in tears and saliva. Due to low levels of sexual dimorphism in the olfactory receptors in MOE and VNO, the sex-specific sensing seems less likely to be dependent on receptor repertoires. However, olfaction may also depend on a continuous removal of background compounds from the sites of detection. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are thought to be involved in this process and in our study Obp transcripts were most expressed along other lipocalins (e.g., Lcn13, Lcn14) and antimicrobial proteins. At the level of proteome, OBPs were highly abundant with only few being sexually dimorphic. We have, however, detected the major urinary proteins MUP4 and MUP5 in males and females and the male-biased central/group-B MUPs that were thought to be abundant mainly in the urine. The exocrine gland-secreted peptides ESP1 and ESP22 were male-biased but not male-specific in the nose. For the first time, we demonstrate that the expression of nasal lipocalins correlates with antimicrobial proteins thus suggesting that their individual variation may be linked to evolvable mechanisms that regulate natural microbiota and pathogens that regularly enter the body along the ‘eyes-nose-oral cavity’ axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Kuntová
- BIOCEV Group, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Romana Stopková
- BIOCEV Group, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pavel Stopka
- BIOCEV Group, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Loss of liver-specific and sexually dimorphic gene expression by aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation in C57BL/6 mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184842. [PMID: 28922406 PMCID: PMC5602546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a highly conserved transcription factor that mediates a broad spectrum of species-, strain-, sex-, age-, tissue-, and cell-specific responses elicited by structurally diverse ligands including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Dose-dependent effects on liver-specific and sexually dimorphic gene expression were examined in male and female mice gavaged with TCDD every 4 days for 28 or 92 days. RNA-seq data revealed the coordinated repression of 181 genes predominately expressed in the liver including albumin (3.7-fold), α-fibrinogen (14.5-fold), and β-fibrinogen (17.4-fold) in males with corresponding AhR enrichment at 2 hr. Liver-specific genes exhibiting sexually dimorphic expression also demonstrated diminished divergence between sexes. For example, male-biased Gstp1 was repressed 3.0-fold in males and induced 4.5-fold in females, which were confirmed at the protein level. Disrupted regulation is consistent with impaired GHR-JAK2-STAT5 signaling and inhibition of female specific CUX2-mediated transcription as well as the repression of other key transcriptional regulators including Ghr, Stat5b, Bcl6, Hnf4a, Hnf6, Foxa1/2/3, and Zhx2. Attenuated liver-specific and sexually dimorphic gene expression was concurrent with the induction of fetal genes such as alpha-fetoprotein. The results suggest AhR activation causes the loss of liver-specific and sexually dimorphic gene expression producing a functionally "de-differentiated" hepatic phenotype.
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Loire E, Tusso S, Caminade P, Severac D, Boursot P, Ganem G, Smadja CM. Do changes in gene expression contribute to sexual isolation and reinforcement in the house mouse? Mol Ecol 2017. [PMID: 28626946 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Expression divergence, rather than sequence divergence, has been shown to be important in speciation, particularly in the early stages of divergence of traits involved in reproductive isolation. In the two European subspecies of house mice, Mus musculus musculus and Mus musculus domesticus, earlier studies have demonstrated olfactory-based assortative mate preference in populations close to their hybrid zone. It has been suggested that this behaviour evolved following the recent secondary contact between the two taxa (~3,000 years ago) in response to selection against hybridization. To test for a role of changes in gene expression in the observed behavioural shift, we conducted a RNA sequencing experiment on mouse vomeronasal organs. Key candidate genes for pheromone-based subspecies recognition, the vomeronasal receptors, are expressed in these organs. Overall patterns of gene expression varied significantly between samples from the two subspecies, with a large number of differentially expressed genes between the two taxa. In contrast, only ~200 genes were found repeatedly differentially expressed between populations within M. m. musculus that did or did not display assortative mate preferences (close to or more distant from the hybrid zone, respectively), with an overrepresentation of genes belonging to vomeronasal receptor family 2. These receptors are known to play a key role in recognition of chemical cues that handle information about genetic identity. Interestingly, four of five of these differentially expressed receptors belong to the same phylogenetic cluster, suggesting specialization of a group of closely related receptors in the recognition of odorant signals that may allow subspecies recognition and assortative mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Loire
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution UMR 5554, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD), EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sergio Tusso
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution UMR 5554, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD), EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Caminade
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution UMR 5554, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD), EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Dany Severac
- Montpellier GenomiX (MGX), Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Pierre Boursot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution UMR 5554, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD), EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Guila Ganem
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution UMR 5554, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD), EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Carole M Smadja
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution UMR 5554, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD), EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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