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Zhou Z, Wu H, Wu Z, Mo L, Li D, Zeng W, Luo H, Huang J. Identification of sex pheromone of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii and exploration of the chemosensory mechanism of their antennae. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 195:105580. [PMID: 37666605 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is a globally invasive species, which has caused great damage to biodiversity, agriculture, and fishing. Therefore, the development of effective management methods, such as pheromone control, is necessary for biological control and biodiversity protection. However, the components of P. clarkii sex pheromones have not yet been explored, and the chemosensory mechanism of the P. clarkii antennae after stimulation by sex pheromone also remains unknown. In this study, we isolated and identified the candidate bioactive component of the female P. clarkii sex pheromone using ultrafiltration centrifugation, semi-preparative liquid phase separation and omics technologies and conducted bioassays to determine its attraction ability. Meanwhile, RNA-Seq technology was used to analyze the potential chemosensory mechanism of antennae. Our results indicated that the male P. clarkii were uniaxially attracted to the female crude conditioned water (FCW), medium fraction (MF, isolated by ultrafiltration centrifugation), and preparative fragment 6 of females (PFF6, isolated by semi-preparative liquid phase separation). Metabolomic analysis revealed the presence of 18 differential metabolites between the PFF6 and PFM6 samples, among which 15 were significantly upregulated in the PFF6 sample. Bioassay test also showed that mestranol, especially at concentrations of 10-5-10-2 mol∙l-1, could significantly attract P. clarkii males; therefore, mestranol was identified as the candidate sex pheromone component of P. clarkii females. Furthermore, RNA-Seq results showed that most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in lipid metabolism and signal transduction pathways were up-regulated in P. clarkii males. In addition, high expressions of Ca2+-binding protein and ion transporting ATPases may enhance the sensitivity of the antennae of P. clarkii males towards sex pheromones. Our study provides data on P. clarkii sex pheromone composition and reveals the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone response in P. clarkii. Moreover, our study provides a referable method for the isolation of candidate bioactive molecules from the P. clarkii sex pheromone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Hongying Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Zhengjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Lili Mo
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Dinghong Li
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Wenlong Zeng
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Haiyu Luo
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Jinlong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China.
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2
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Peng M, Liu Z, Li Z, Qian S, Liu X, Li J. The temptin gene of the clade Lophotrochozoa is involved in formation of the prismatic layer during biomineralization in molluscs. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 188:800-810. [PMID: 34339790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The biomineralization mechanism of mollusc shell has been studied for a long time, but there is a lack of understanding about the relationship between the shell formation in vitro and the signaling system in vivo. In this study, we cloned a novel shell matrix protein gene (hc-temptin), which only be characterized as a water-borne protein pheromone of molluscs in previous studies, from the freshwater mussel Hyriopsis cumingii. By bioinformatics analysis we found that temptin was a gene unique to the clade Lophotrochozoa, and it exists in all mollusc taxa except Cephalopoda. The current data supported the premise that temptin was generated in the early emergence of molluscs and that it maintained a high mutation rate to evolve relative independently. The specificity of hc-temptin expression in the mantle tissue suggests its potential to participate in biomineralization. Its sequence contained typical Ca2+ binding sites. Our experiments involving the pearl formation process, damaged shell repair process, and RNAi experiment showed that hc-temptin was a shell matrix protein that plays an important role in formation of the prismatic layer. The results of this study provided new insights about the origin of the temptin gene and its role in molluscs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoxiao Peng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Zhenming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai 201306, China
| | | | - Xiaojun Liu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang 314000, China.
| | - Jiale Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai 201306, China.
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Dudgeon TW, Maddin HC, Evans DC, Mallon JC. The internal cranial anatomy of Champsosaurus (Choristodera: Champsosauridae): Implications for neurosensory function. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7122. [PMID: 32346021 PMCID: PMC7188685 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63956-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Although isolated Champsosaurus remains are common in Upper Cretaceous sediments of North America, the braincase of these animals is enigmatic due to the fragility of their skulls. Here, two well-preserved specimens of Champsosaurus (CMN 8920 and CMN 8919) are CT scanned to describe their neurosensory structures and infer sensory capability. The anterior portion of the braincase was poorly ossified and thus does not permit visualization of a complete endocast; however, impressions of the olfactory stalks indicate that they were elongate and likely facilitated good olfaction. The posterior portion of the braincase is ossified and morphologically similar to that of other extinct diapsids. The absence of an otic notch and an expansion of the pars inferior of the inner ear suggests Champsosaurus was limited to detecting low frequency sounds. Comparison of the shapes of semicircular canals with lepidosaurs and archosauromorphs demonstrates that the semicircular canals of Champsosaurus are most similar to those of aquatic reptiles, suggesting that Champsosaurus was well adapted for sensing movement in an aquatic environment. This analysis also demonstrates that birds, non-avian archosauromorphs, and lepidosaurs possess significantly different canal morphologies, and represents the first morphometric analysis of semicircular canals across Diapsida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Dudgeon
- Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Hillary C Maddin
- Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
| | - David C Evans
- Vertebrate Palaeontology, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jordan C Mallon
- Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.,Beaty Centre for Species Discovery and Palaeobiology Section, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada
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Castillo MG, Humphries JE, Mourão MM, Marquez J, Gonzalez A, Montelongo CE. Biomphalaria glabrata immunity: Post-genome advances. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 104:103557. [PMID: 31759924 PMCID: PMC8995041 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.103557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The freshwater snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, is an important intermediate host in the life cycle for the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent of schistosomiasis. Current treatment and prevention strategies have not led to a significant decrease in disease transmission. However, the genome of B. glabrata was recently sequenced to provide additional resources to further our understanding of snail biology. This review presents an overview of recently published, post-genome studies related to the topic of snail immunity. Many of these reports expand on findings originated from the genome characterization. These novel studies include a complementary gene linkage map, analysis of the genome of the B. glabrata embryonic (Bge) cell line, as well as transcriptomic and proteomic studies looking at snail-parasite interactions and innate immune memory responses towards schistosomes. Also included are biochemical investigations on snail pheromones, neuropeptides, and attractants, as well as studies investigating the frontiers of molluscan epigenetics and cell signaling were also included. Findings support the current hypotheses on snail-parasite strain compatibility, and that snail host resistance to schistosome infection is dependent not only on genetics and expression, but on the ability to form multimeric molecular complexes in a timely and tissue-specific manner. The relevance of cell immunity is reinforced, while the importance of humoral factors, especially for secondary infections, is supported. Overall, these studies reflect an improved understanding on the diversity, specificity, and complexity of molluscan immune systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Castillo
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
| | | | - Marina M Mourão
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Minas, Brazil
| | - Joshua Marquez
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Adrian Gonzalez
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Cesar E Montelongo
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
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Li K, Buchinger TJ, Li W. Discovery and characterization of natural products that act as pheromones in fish. Nat Prod Rep 2019; 35:501-513. [PMID: 29662986 DOI: 10.1039/c8np00003d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2018 Fish use a diverse collection of molecules to communicate with conspecifics. Since Karlson and Lüscher termed these molecules 'pheromones', chemists and biologists have joined efforts to characterize their structures and functions. In particular, the understanding of insect pheromones developed at a rapid pace, set, in part, by the use of bioassay-guided fractionation and natural product chemistry. Research on vertebrate pheromones, however, has progressed more slowly. Initially, biologists characterized fish pheromones by screening commercially available compounds suspected to act as pheromones based upon their physiological function. Such biology-driven screening has proven a productive approach to studying pheromones in fish. However, the many functions of fish pheromones and diverse metabolites that fish release make predicting pheromone identity difficult and necessitate approaches led by chemistry. Indeed, the few cases in which pheromone identification was led by natural product chemistry indicated novel or otherwise unpredicted compounds act as pheromones. Here, we provide a brief review of the approaches to identifying pheromones, placing particular emphasis on the promise of using natural product chemistry together with assays of biological activity. Several case studies illustrate bioassay-guided fractionation as an approach to pheromone identification in fish and the unexpected diversity of pheromone structures discovered by natural product chemistry. With recent advances in natural product chemistry, bioassay-guided fractionation is likely to unveil an even broader collection of pheromone structures and enable research that spans across disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, 480 Wilson Rd., East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
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6
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Bose U, Wang T, Zhao M, Motti CA, Hall MR, Cummins SF. Multiomics analysis of the giant triton snail salivary gland, a crown-of-thorns starfish predator. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6000. [PMID: 28729681 PMCID: PMC5519703 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05974-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The giant triton snail (Charonia tritonis) is one of the few natural predators of the adult Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS), a corallivore that has been damaging to many reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Charonia species have large salivary glands (SGs) that are suspected to produce either a venom and/or sulphuric acid which can immobilize their prey and neutralize the intrinsic toxic properties of COTS. To date, there is little information on the types of toxins produced by tritons. In this paper, the predatory behaviour of the C. tritonis is described. Then, the C. tritonis SG, which itself is made up of an anterior lobe (AL) and posterior lobe (PL), was analyzed using an integrated transcriptomics and proteomics approach, to identify putative toxin- and feeding-related proteins. A de novo transcriptome database and in silico protein analysis predicts that ~3800 proteins have features consistent with being secreted. A gland-specific proteomics analysis confirmed the presence of numerous SG-AL and SG-PL proteins, including those with similarity to cysteine-rich venom proteins. Sulfuric acid biosynthesis enzymes were identified, specific to the SG-PL. Our analysis of the C. tritonis SG (AL and PL) has provided a deeper insight into the biomolecular toolkit used for predation and feeding by C. tritonis.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Bose
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Genecology Research Center, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - T Wang
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Genecology Research Center, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558, Australia
| | - M Zhao
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Genecology Research Center, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558, Australia
| | - C A Motti
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - M R Hall
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - S F Cummins
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Genecology Research Center, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558, Australia.
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7
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The protein pheromone temptin is an attractant of the gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 203:855-866. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1198-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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8
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Fulton J, LeMoine CMR, Bucking C, Brix KV, Walsh PJ, McDonald MD. A waterborne chemical cue from Gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta, prompts pulsatile urea excretion in conspecifics. Physiol Behav 2017; 171:92-99. [PMID: 28040487 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) has a fully functional ornithine urea cycle (O-UC) that allows it to excrete nitrogenous waste in the form of urea. Interestingly, urea is excreted in a pulse across the gill that lasts 1-3h and occurs once or twice a day. Both the stress hormone, cortisol, and the neurotransmitter, serotonin (5-HT) are involved in the control of pulsatile urea excretion. This and other evidence suggests that urea pulsing may be linked to toadfish social behavior. The hypothesis of the present study was that toadfish urea pulses can be triggered by waterborne chemical cues from conspecifics. Our findings indicate that exposure to seawater that held a donor conspecific for up to 48h (pre-conditioned seawater; PC-SW) induced a urea pulse within 7h in naïve conspecifics compared to a pulse latency of 20h when exposed to seawater alone. Factors such as PC-SW intensity and donor body mass influenced the pulse latency response of naïve conspecifics. Fractionation and heat treatment of PC-SW to narrow possible signal candidates revealed that the active chemical was both water-soluble and heat-stable. Fish exposed to urea, cortisol or 5-HT in seawater did not have a pulse latency that was significantly different than seawater alone; however, ammonia, perhaps in the form of NH4Cl, was found to be a factor in the pulse latency response of toadfish to PC-SW and could be one component of a multi-component cue used for chemical communication in toadfish. Further studies are needed to fully identify the chemical cue as well as determine its adaptive significance in this marine teleost fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Fulton
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Christophe M R LeMoine
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; Department of Biology, Brandon University, Brandon, MB R7A 6A9, Canada
| | - Carol Bucking
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Kevin V Brix
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Patrick J Walsh
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - M Danielle McDonald
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
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9
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Silva L, Antunes A. Vomeronasal Receptors in Vertebrates and the Evolution of Pheromone Detection. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2017; 5:353-370. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Silva
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4050-208 Porto, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4050-208 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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10
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Janssenswillen S, Bossuyt F. Male Courtship Pheromones Induce Cloacal Gaping in Female Newts (Salamandridae). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0144985. [PMID: 26771882 PMCID: PMC4714853 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pheromones are an important component of sexual communication in courting salamanders, but the number of species in which their use has been demonstrated with behavioral evidence remains limited. Here we developed a behavioral assay for demonstrating courtship pheromone use in the aquatically courting Iberian ribbed newt Pleurodeles waltl. By performing an in-depth study of the courtship behavior, we show that females invariably open their cloaca (cloacal gaping) before engaging in pinwheel behavior, the circling movement that is the prelude to spermatophore uptake. In contrast, cloacal gaping was not observed in failed courtships, where females escaped or displayed thanatosis. Since gaping mainly occurred during male amplexus and cloacal imposition, which is the obvious period of pheromone transfer, we next investigated whether male courtship water (i.e., water holding courtship pheromones) alone was able to induce this reaction in females. These tests showed that courtship water induced cloacal gaping significantly more than water, even in the absence of a male. Cloacal gaping thus provides a simple and robust test for demonstrating courtship pheromone use in the Iberian ribbed newt. Since opening the cloaca is an essential prerequisite for spermatophore pick-up in all internally fertilizing salamanders, we hypothesize that variations on this assay will also be useful in several other species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Franky Bossuyt
- Amphibian Evolution Lab, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit, Brussel, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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11
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Van Bocxlaer I, Treer D, Maex M, Vandebergh W, Janssenswillen S, Stegen G, Kok P, Willaert B, Matthijs S, Martens E, Mortier A, de Greve H, Proost P, Bossuyt F. Side-by-side secretion of Late Palaeozoic diverged courtship pheromones in an aquatic salamander. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 282:20142960. [PMID: 25694622 PMCID: PMC4345460 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.2960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Males of the advanced salamanders (Salamandroidea) attain internal fertilization without a copulatory organ by depositing a spermatophore on the substrate in the environment, which females subsequently take up with their cloaca. The aquatically reproducing modern Eurasian newts (Salamandridae) have taken this to extremes, because most species do not display close physical contact during courtship, but instead largely rely on females following the male track at spermatophore deposition. Although pheromones have been widely assumed to represent an important aspect of male courtship, molecules able to induce the female following behaviour that is the prelude for successful insemination have not yet been identified. Here, we show that uncleaved sodefrin precursor-like factor (SPF) protein pheromones are sufficient to elicit such behaviour in female palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus). Combined transcriptomic and proteomic evidence shows that males simultaneously tail-fan multiple ca 20 kDa glycosylated SPF proteins during courtship. Notably, molecular dating estimates show that the diversification of these proteins already started in the late Palaeozoic, about 300 million years ago. Our study thus not only extends the use of uncleaved SPF proteins outside terrestrially reproducing plethodontid salamanders, but also reveals one of the oldest vertebrate pheromone systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Van Bocxlaer
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dag Treer
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Margo Maex
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wim Vandebergh
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sunita Janssenswillen
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gwij Stegen
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe Kok
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert Willaert
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Severine Matthijs
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Erik Martens
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U. Leuven), Minderbroedersstraat 10-Box 1030, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Mortier
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U. Leuven), Minderbroedersstraat 10-Box 1030, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Henri de Greve
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Centre, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U. Leuven), Minderbroedersstraat 10-Box 1030, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Franky Bossuyt
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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12
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Bennett RV, Gamage CM, Galhena AS, Fernández FM. Contrast-Enhanced Differential Mobility-Desorption Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Biological Tissues. Anal Chem 2014; 86:3756-63. [DOI: 10.1021/ac5007816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel V. Bennett
- School of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Chaminda M. Gamage
- School of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Asiri S. Galhena
- School of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Facundo M. Fernández
- School of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
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13
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Gomez-Diaz C, Benton R. The joy of sex pheromones. EMBO Rep 2013; 14:874-83. [PMID: 24030282 DOI: 10.1038/embor.2013.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex pheromones provide an important means of communication to unite individuals for successful reproduction. Although sex pheromones are highly diverse across animals, these signals fulfil common fundamental roles in enabling identification of a mating partner of the opposite sex, the appropriate species and of optimal fecundity. In this review, we synthesize both classic and recent investigations on sex pheromones in a range of species, spanning nematode worms, insects and mammals. These studies reveal comparable strategies in how these chemical signals are produced, detected and processed in the brain to regulate sexual behaviours. Elucidation of sex pheromone communication mechanisms both defines outstanding models to understand the molecular and neuronal basis of chemosensory behaviours, and reveals how similar evolutionary selection pressures yield convergent solutions in distinct animal nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Gomez-Diaz
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology & Medicine, Bâtiment Le Génopode, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Bowie JH, Separovic F, Tyler MJ. Host-defense peptides of Australian anurans. Part 2. Structure, activity, mechanism of action, and evolutionary significance. Peptides 2012; 37:174-88. [PMID: 22771617 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2012.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2012] [Revised: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A previous review summarized research prior to 2004 carried out on the bioactive host-defense peptides contained in the skin secretions of Australian anurans (frogs and toads). This review covers the extension of that research from 2004 to 2012, and includes membrane-active peptides (including antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal and antiviral peptides) together with the mechanisms by which these peptides interact with model membranes, peptides that may be classified as "neuropeptides" (including smooth muscle active peptides, opioids and immunomodulators) and peptides which inhibit the formation of nitric oxide from neuronal nitric oxide synthase. The review discusses the outcome of cDNA sequencing of signal-spacer-active peptides from an evolutionary viewpoint, and also lists those peptides for which activities have not been found to this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Bowie
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Physics, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
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