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Qin X, Tan Y, Ren W, Zhou W, Niu R, Liang L, Li J, Cao K, Wei G, Zhu X, Huang M. Elevated expression of LCN13 through FXR activation ameliorates hepatocellular lipid accumulation and inflammation. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 131:111812. [PMID: 38493698 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111812] [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: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipocalin 13 (LCN13) is a member of the lipocalin family that consists of numerous secretory proteins. LCN13 high-expression has been reported to possess anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseases (MASLD) including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) are frequently associated with obesity and insulin resistance, the functional role of endogenous LCN13 and the therapeutic effect of LCN13 in MASH and related metabolic deterioration have not been evaluated. METHODS We employed a methionine-choline deficient diet model and MASH cell models to investigate the role of LCN13 in MASH development. We sought to explore the effects of LCN13 on lipid metabolism and inflammation in hepatocytes under PA/OA exposure using Western blotting, real-time RT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hematoxylin and eosin staining, oil red O staining. Using RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and luciferase reporter assays to elucidate whether farnesoid X receptor (FXR) regulates human LCN13 transcription as a transcription factor. RESULTS Our study found that LCN13 was down-regulated in MASH patients, MASH mouse and cell models. LCN13 overexpression in hepatocyte cells significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and inflammation in vitro. Conversely, LCN13 downregulation significantly exacerbated lipid accumulation and inflammatory responses in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we provided the first evidence that LCN13 was transcriptionally activated by FXR, representing a novel direct target gene of FXR. And the key promoter region of LCN13 binds to FXR was also elucidated. We further revealed that LCN13 overexpression via FXR activation ameliorates hepatocellular lipid accumulation and inflammation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, LCN13-down-regulated mice exhibited aggravated MASH phenotypes, including increased hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation. CONCLUSION Our findings provide new insight regarding the protective role of LCN13 in MASH development and suggest an innovative therapeutic strategy for treating MASH or related metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingliang Qin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yongyao Tan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Weishu Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Weiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Rouxi Niu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linyue Liang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jinling Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Kaiyuan Cao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Guohong Wei
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Xun Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; The Third People's Hospital of Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519060, China.
| | - Mingxing Huang
- The Third People's Hospital of Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519060, China.
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Hamacher C, Degen R, Franke M, Switacz VK, Fleck D, Katreddi RR, Hernandez-Clavijo A, Strauch M, Horio N, Hachgenei E, Spehr J, Liberles SD, Merhof D, Forni PE, Zimmer-Bensch G, Ben-Shaul Y, Spehr M. A revised conceptual framework for mouse vomeronasal pumping and stimulus sampling. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1206-1221.e6. [PMID: 38320553 PMCID: PMC10965388 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The physiological performance of any sensory organ is determined by its anatomy and physical properties. Consequently, complex sensory structures with elaborate features have evolved to optimize stimulus detection. Understanding these structures and their physical nature forms the basis for mechanistic insights into sensory function. Despite its crucial role as a sensor for pheromones and other behaviorally instructive chemical cues, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) remains a poorly characterized mammalian sensory structure. Fundamental principles of its physico-mechanical function, including basic aspects of stimulus sampling, remain poorly explored. Here, we revisit the classical vasomotor pump hypothesis of vomeronasal stimulus uptake. Using advanced anatomical, histological, and physiological methods, we demonstrate that large parts of the lateral mouse VNO are composed of smooth muscle. Vomeronasal smooth muscle tissue comprises two subsets of fibers with distinct topography, structure, excitation-contraction coupling, and, ultimately, contractile properties. Specifically, contractions of a large population of noradrenaline-sensitive cells mediate both transverse and longitudinal lumen expansion, whereas cholinergic stimulation targets an adluminal group of smooth muscle fibers. The latter run parallel to the VNO's rostro-caudal axis and are ideally situated to mediate antagonistic longitudinal constriction of the lumen. This newly discovered arrangement implies a novel mode of function. Single-cell transcriptomics and pharmacological profiling reveal the receptor subtypes involved. Finally, 2D/3D tomography provides non-invasive insight into the intact VNO's anatomy and mechanics, enables measurement of luminal fluid volume, and allows an assessment of relative volume change upon noradrenergic stimulation. Together, we propose a revised conceptual framework for mouse vomeronasal pumping and, thus, stimulus sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Hamacher
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Degen
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses - MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Melissa Franke
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Victoria K Switacz
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses - MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - David Fleck
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Raghu Ram Katreddi
- Department of Biological Sciences, The RNA Institute, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Andres Hernandez-Clavijo
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Strauch
- Institute of Imaging and Computer Vision, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nao Horio
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Enno Hachgenei
- Department of Production Metrology, Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Spehr
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephen D Liberles
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dorit Merhof
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses - MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Imaging and Computer Vision, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Paolo E Forni
- Department of Biological Sciences, The RNA Institute, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Geraldine Zimmer-Bensch
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses - MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Department of Neuroepigenetics, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Yoram Ben-Shaul
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Marc Spehr
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses - MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Coombes HA, Prescott MC, Stockley P, Beynon RJ, Hurst JL. The role of male scent in female attraction in the bank vole, Myodes glareolus. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4812. [PMID: 38413659 PMCID: PMC10899570 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55235-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemical signals are frequently utilised by male mammals for intersexual communication and females are often attracted to male scent. However, the mechanism underlying female attraction has only been identified in a small number of mammalian species. Mammalian scents contain airborne volatiles, that are detected by receivers at a distance from the scent source, as well as non-volatile molecules, such as proteins, that require physical contact for detection. Lipocalin proteins, produced within the scent secretions of many terrestrial mammals, are thought to be particularly important in chemical signalling. Here, we explore if the male-specific protein, glareosin, expressed by adult male bank voles, Myodes glareolus, stimulates female attraction to male scent. We show that female bank voles are more attracted to male compared to female scent, supporting the results of previous studies. Increased investigation and attraction to male scent occurred to both airborne volatiles and non-volatile proteins when they were presented separately. However, we found no evidence that attraction to male scent was driven by glareosin. Our results differ from those previously described in house mice, where a single protein induces female attraction to male scent, suggesting the mechanism underlying female attraction to male scent differs between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Coombes
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Mark C Prescott
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paula Stockley
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Robert J Beynon
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jane L Hurst
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Ekim Kocabey A, Schneiter R. Human lipocalins bind and export fatty acids through the secretory pathway of yeast cells. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1309024. [PMID: 38328584 PMCID: PMC10849133 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1309024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The activation of fatty acids to their acyl-CoA derivatives is a crucial step for their integration into more complex lipids or their degradation via beta-oxidation. Yeast cells employ five distinct acyl-CoA synthases to facilitate this ATP-dependent activation of acyl chains. Notably, mutant cells that are deficient in two of these fatty acid-activating (FAA) enzymes, namely, Faa1 and Faa4, do not take up free fatty acids but rather export them out of the cell. This unique fatty acid export pathway depends on small, secreted pathogenesis-related yeast proteins (Pry). In this study, we investigate whether the expression of human fatty acid-binding proteins, including Albumin, fatty acid-binding protein 4 (Fabp4), and three distinct lipocalins (ApoD, Lcn1, and Obp2a), could promote fatty acid secretion in yeast. To optimize the expression and secretion of these proteins, we systematically examined various signal sequences in both low-copy and high-copy number plasmids. Our findings reveal that directing these fatty-acid binding proteins into the secretory pathway effectively promotes fatty acid secretion from a sensitized quadruple mutant model strain (faa1∆ faa4∆ pry1∆ pry3∆). Furthermore, the level of fatty acid secretion exhibited a positive correlation with the efficiency of protein secretion. Importantly, the expression of all human lipid-binding proteins rescued Pry-dependent fatty acid secretion, resulting in the secretion of both long-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. These results not only affirm the in vitro binding capabilities of lipocalins to fatty acids but also present a novel avenue for enhancing the secretion of valuable lipidic compounds. Given the growing interest in utilizing yeast as a cellular factory for producing poorly soluble compounds and the potential of lipocalins as platforms for engineering substrate-binding specificity, our model is considered as a powerful tool for promoting the secretion of high-value lipid-based molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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5
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Derby CD, Caprio J. What are olfaction and gustation, and do all animals have them? Chem Senses 2024; 49:bjae009. [PMID: 38422390 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjae009] [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: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Different animals have distinctive anatomical and physiological properties to their chemical senses that enhance detection and discrimination of relevant chemical cues. Humans and other vertebrates are recognized as having 2 main chemical senses, olfaction and gustation, distinguished from each other by their evolutionarily conserved neuroanatomical organization. This distinction between olfaction and gustation in vertebrates is not based on the medium in which they live because the most ancestral and numerous vertebrates, the fishes, live in an aquatic habitat and thus both olfaction and gustation occur in water and both can be of high sensitivity. The terms olfaction and gustation have also often been applied to the invertebrates, though not based on homology. Consequently, any similarities between olfaction and gustation in the vertebrates and invertebrates have resulted from convergent adaptations or shared constraints during evolution. The untidiness of assigning olfaction and gustation to invertebrates has led some to recommend abandoning the use of these terms and instead unifying them and others into a single category-chemical sense. In our essay, we compare the nature of the chemical senses of diverse animal types and consider their designation as olfaction, oral gustation, extra-oral gustation, or simply chemoreception. Properties that we have found useful in categorizing chemical senses of vertebrates and invertebrates include the nature of peripheral sensory cells, organization of the neuropil in the processing centers, molecular receptor specificity, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles D Derby
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - John Caprio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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Akula S, Welinder C, Fu Z, Olsson AK, Hellman L. Identification of the Major Protein Components of Human and Cow Saliva. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16838. [PMID: 38069163 PMCID: PMC10705902 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cows produce saliva in very large quantities to lubricate and facilitate food processing. Estimates indicate an amount of 50-150 L per day. Human saliva has previously been found to contain numerous antibacterial components, such as lysozyme, histatins, members of the S-100 family and lactoferrin, to limit pathogen colonization. Cows depend on a complex microbial community in their digestive system for food digestion. Our aim here was to analyze how this would influence the content of their saliva. We therefore sampled saliva from five humans and both nose secretions and saliva from six cows and separated the saliva on SDS-PAGE gradient gels and analyzed the major protein bands with LC-MS/MS. The cow saliva was found to be dominated by a few major proteins only, carbonic anhydrase 6, a pH-stabilizing enzyme and the short palate, lung and nasal epithelium carcinoma-associated protein 2A (SPLUNC2A), also named bovine salivary protein 30 kDa (BSP30) or BPIFA2B. This latter protein has been proposed to play a role in local antibacterial response by binding bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and inhibiting bacterial growth but may instead, according to more recent data, primarily have surfactant activity. Numerous peptide fragments of mucin-5B were also detected in different regions of the gel in the MS analysis. Interestingly, no major band on gel was detected representing any of the antibacterial proteins, indicating that cows may produce them at very low levels that do not harm the microbial flora of their digestive system. The nose secretions of the cows primarily contained the odorant protein, a protein thought to be involved in enhancing the sense of smell of the olfactory receptors and the possibility of quickly sensing potential poisonous food components. High levels of secretory IgA were also found in one sample of cow mouth drippings, indicating a strong upregulation during an infection. The human saliva was more complex, containing secretory IgA, amylase, carbonic anhydrase 6, lysozyme, histatins and a number of other less abundant proteins, indicating a major difference to the saliva of cows that show very low levels of antibacterial components, most likely to not harm the microbial flora of the rumen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivas Akula
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, The Biomedical Center, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.A.); (Z.F.)
| | - Charlotte Welinder
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Mass Spectrometry, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden;
| | - Zhirong Fu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, The Biomedical Center, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.A.); (Z.F.)
| | - Anna-Karin Olsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, The Biomedical Center, Box 582, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Lars Hellman
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, The Biomedical Center, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.A.); (Z.F.)
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Rojas CA, Marks SL, Borras E, Lesea H, McCartney MM, Coil DA, Davis CE, Eisen JA. Characterization of the microbiome and volatile compounds in anal gland secretions from domestic cats (Felis catus) using metagenomics and metabolomics. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19382. [PMID: 37938241 PMCID: PMC10632438 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45997-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Many mammals rely on volatile organic chemical compounds (VOCs) produced by bacteria for their communication and behavior, though little is known about the exact molecular mechanisms or bacterial species that are responsible. We used metagenomic sequencing, mass-spectrometry based metabolomics, and culturing to profile the microbial and volatile chemical constituents of anal gland secretions in twenty-three domestic cats (Felis catus), in attempts to identify organisms potentially involved in host odor production. We found that the anal gland microbiome was dominated by bacteria in the genera Corynebacterium, Bacteroides, Proteus, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus, and showed striking variation among individual cats. Microbiome profiles also varied with host age and obesity. Metabolites such as fatty-acids, ketones, aldehydes and alcohols were detected in glandular secretions. Overall, microbiome and metabolome profiles were modestly correlated (r = 0.17), indicating that a relationship exists between the bacteria in the gland and the metabolites produced in the gland. Functional analyses revealed the presence of genes predicted to code for enzymes involved in VOC metabolism such as dehydrogenases, reductases, and decarboxylases. From metagenomic data, we generated 85 high-quality metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Of importance were four MAGs classified as Corynebacterium frankenforstense, Proteus mirabilis, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Bacteroides fragilis. They represent strong candidates for further investigation of the mechanisms of volatile synthesis and scent production in the mammalian anal gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie A Rojas
- Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Stanley L Marks
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California-Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Eva Borras
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- UC Davis Lung Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Hira Lesea
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Mitchell M McCartney
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- UC Davis Lung Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA, USA
| | - David A Coil
- Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Cristina E Davis
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- UC Davis Lung Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan A Eisen
- Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Iannucci A, Zhu J, Antonielli L, Ayari A, Nasri-Ammar K, Knoll W, Pelosi P, Dani FR. Chemosensory proteins as putative semiochemical carriers in the desert isopod Hemilepistus reaumurii. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 162:104012. [PMID: 37743031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104012] [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: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The order Isopoda contains both aquatic and terrestrial species, among which Hemilepistus reaumurii, which lives in arid environments and is the most adapted to terrestrial life. Olfaction has been deeply investigated in insects while it has received very limited attention in other arthropods, particularly in terrestrial crustaceans. In insects, soluble proteins belonging to two main families, Odorant Binding Proteins (OBPs) and Chemosensory Proteins (CSPs), are contained in the olfactory sensillar lymph and are suggested to act as carriers of hydrophobic semiochemicals to or from membrane-bound olfactory receptors. Other protein families, namely Nieman-Pick type 2 (NPC2) and Lipocalins (LCNs) have been also reported as putative odorant carriers in insects and other arthropod clades. In this study, we have sequenced and analysed the transcriptomes of antennae and of the first pair of legs of H. reaumurii focusing on soluble olfactory proteins. Interestingly, we have found 13 genes encoding CSPs, whose sequences differ from those of the other arthropod clades, including non-isopod crustaceans, for the presence of two additional cysteine residues, besides the four conserved ones. Binding assays on two of these proteins showed strong affinities for fatty acids and long-chain unsaturated esters and aldehydes, putative semiochemicals for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Iannucci
- Department of Biology, University of Firenze, 50019, Firenze, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Jiao Zhu
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Center for Health & Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Livio Antonielli
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Center for Health & Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Anas Ayari
- Université Tunis El Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Unité de Recherche de Bio-Ecologie et Systématique Evolutive, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Karima Nasri-Ammar
- Université Tunis El Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Unité de Recherche de Bio-Ecologie et Systématique Evolutive, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Wolfgang Knoll
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Center for Health & Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Paolo Pelosi
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Center for Health & Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Francesca Romana Dani
- Department of Biology, University of Firenze, 50019, Firenze, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133, Palermo, Italy.
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Rojas CA, Marks SL, Borras E, Lesea H, McCartney MM, Coil D, Davis CE, Eisen JA. Characterization of the microbiome and volatile compounds in anal gland secretions from domestic cats (Felis catus) using metagenomics and metabolomics. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2883555. [PMID: 37214811 PMCID: PMC10197813 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2883555/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Animals rely on volatile chemical compounds for their communication and behavior. Many of these compounds are sequestered in endocrine and exocrine glands and are synthesized by anaerobic microbes. While the volatile organic compound (VOC) or microbiome composition of glandular secretions has been investigated in several mammalian species, few have linked specific bacterial taxa to the production of volatiles or to specific microbial gene pathways. Here, we use metagenomic sequencing, mass-spectrometry based metabolomics, and culturing to profile the microbial and volatile chemical constituents of anal gland secretions in twenty-three domestic cats (Felis catus), in attempts to identify organisms potentially involved in host odor production. We found that the anal gland microbiome was dominated by bacteria in the genera Corynebacterium, Bacteroides, Proteus, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus, and showed striking variation among individual cats. Microbiome profiles also varied with host age and obesity. Metabolites such as fatty-acids, ketones, aldehydes and alcohols were detected in glandular secretions. Overall, microbiome and metabolome profiles were modestly correlated (r=0.17), indicating that a relationship exists between the bacteria in the gland and the metabolites produced in the gland. Functional analyses revealed the presence of genes predicted to code for enzymes involved in VOC metabolism such as dehydrogenases, reductases, and decarboxylases. From metagenomic data, we generated 85 high-quality metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Of these, four were inferred to have high relative abundance in metagenome profiles and had close relatives that were recovered as cultured isolates. These four MAGs were classified as Corynebacterium frankenforstense, Proteus mirabilis, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Bacteroides fragilis. They represent strong candidates for further investigation of the mechanisms of volatile synthesis and scent production in the mammalian anal gland.
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10
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Woszczyło M, Pasikowski P, Devaraj S, Kokocińska A, Szumny A, Skwark MJ, Niżański W, Dzięcioł M. Urinary Proteins of Female Domestic Dog ( Canis familiaris) during Ovarian Cycle. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10040292. [PMID: 37104448 PMCID: PMC10140845 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10040292] [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: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence and identity of non-volatile chemical signals remain elusive in canines. In this study, we aim to evaluate the urinary proteins of female domestic dogs in the estrus and anestrus phases to evidence the presence of non-volatile chemical signals and to elucidate their identities. We collected urine samples from eight female dogs in the estrus and anestrus phases. A total of 240 proteins were identified in the urine samples using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS analysis). The comparison of the proteins revealed a significant difference between the estrus and anestrus urine. We identified proteins belonging to the lipocalin family of canines (beta-lactoglobulin-1 and beta-lactoglobulin-2, P33685 and P33686, respectively), one of whose function was the transport of pheromones and which was present only in the estrus urine samples. Moreover, proteins such as Clusterin (CLU), Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), and Proenkephalin (PENK) were more abundant in the estrus urine when compared to the anestrus urine. LEAP2 was recently described as a ghrelin receptor antagonist and implicated in regulating food intake and body weight in humans and mice. Proenkephalin, a polypeptide hormone cleaved into opioid peptides, was also recognized as a candidate to determine kidney function. As of yet, none of these have played a role in chemical communication. Clusterin, an extracellular chaperone protecting from protein aggregation implicated in stress-induced cell apoptosis, is a plausible candidate in chemical communication, which is a claim that needs to be ascertained further. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD040418.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Woszczyło
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Sankarganesh Devaraj
- Department of Biotechnology, School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India
| | - Agata Kokocińska
- Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Antoni Szumny
- Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Wojciech Niżański
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Michał Dzięcioł
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
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11
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Min J, Foo ACY, Gabel SA, Perera L, DeRose EF, Pomés A, Pedersen LC, Mueller GA. Structural and ligand binding analysis of the pet allergens Can f 1 and Fel d 7. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2023; 4:1133412. [PMID: 36960093 PMCID: PMC10028261 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2023.1133412] [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: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pet lipocalins are respiratory allergens with a central hydrophobic ligand-binding cavity called a calyx. Molecules carried in the calyx by allergens are suggested to influence allergenicity, but little is known about the native ligands. Methods To provide more information on prospective ligands, we report crystal structures, NMR, molecular dynamics, and florescence studies of a dog lipocalin allergen Can f 1 and its closely related (and cross-reactive) cat allergen Fel d 7. Results Structural comparisons with reported lipocalins revealed that Can f 1 and Fel d 7 calyxes are open and positively charged while other dog lipocalin allergens are closed and negatively charged. We screened fatty acids as surrogate ligands, and found that Can f 1 and Fel d 7 bind multiple ligands with preferences for palmitic acid (16:0) among saturated fatty acids and oleic acid (18:1 cis-9) among unsaturated ones. NMR analysis of methyl probes reveals that conformational changes occur upon binding of pinolenic acid inside the calyx. Molecular dynamics simulation shows that the carboxylic group of fatty acids shuttles between two positively charged amino acids inside the Can f 1 and Fel d 7 calyx. Consistent with simulations, the stoichiometry of oleic acid-binding is 2:1 (fatty acid: protein) for Can f 1 and Fel d 7. Discussion The results provide valuable insights into the determinants of selectivity and candidate ligands for pet lipocalin allergens Can f 1 and Fel d 7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungki Min
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alexander C. Y. Foo
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Scott A. Gabel
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Lalith Perera
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Eugene F. DeRose
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Anna Pomés
- Basic Research, InBio, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Lars C. Pedersen
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Geoffrey A. Mueller
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
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12
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Qin C, Wang Y, Hu J, Wang T, Liu D, Dong J, Lu Y. Artificial Olfactory Biohybrid System: An Evolving Sense of Smell. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2204726. [PMID: 36529960 PMCID: PMC9929144 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The olfactory system can detect and recognize tens of thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at low concentrations in complex environments. Bioelectronic nose (B-EN), which mimics olfactory systems, is becoming an emerging sensing technology for identifying VOCs with sensitivity and specificity. B-ENs integrate electronic sensors with bioreceptors and pattern recognition technologies to enable medical diagnosis, public security, environmental monitoring, and food safety. However, there is currently no commercially available B-EN on the market. Apart from the high selectivity and sensitivity necessary for volatile organic compound analysis, commercial B-ENs must overcome issues impacting sensor operation and other problems associated with odor localization. The emergence of nanotechnology has provided a novel research concept for addressing these problems. In this work, the structure and operational mechanisms of biomimetic olfactory systems are discussed, with an emphasis on the development and immobilization of materials. Various biosensor applications and current developments are reviewed. Challenges and opportunities for fulfilling the potential of artificial olfactory biohybrid systems in fundamental and practical research are investigated in greater depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanting Qin
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Tianjin Industrial Microbiology Key LaboratoryCollege of BiotechnologyTianjin University of Science and TechnologyTianjin300457China
| | - Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Tianjin Industrial Microbiology Key LaboratoryCollege of BiotechnologyTianjin University of Science and TechnologyTianjin300457China
| | - Jiawang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Dong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Jian Dong
- Tianjin Industrial Microbiology Key LaboratoryCollege of BiotechnologyTianjin University of Science and TechnologyTianjin300457China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
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13
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Zaremska V, Chidhambaram M, Archunan G, Knoll W, Pelosi P. Reverse chemical ecology indicates long-chain aldehydes as new potential semiochemicals for the African elephant Loxodonta africana. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1061278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical communication between sexes in the elephants has been well studied at the chemical and behavioural levels, but little is known about the proteins mediating the exchange of chemical signals. Two sex pheromones have been identified in Asian elephants: (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and frontalin, and their effects on the elephants’ behaviour have been described in detail. The genomes of both the Asian (Elephas maximus) and the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) have been poorly annotated. In particular, the complete sequences of two odorant-binding proteins and a VEG protein are available for the African elephant, together with isoforms and other members of the same families, which however are incomplete or unreliable. In a previous study, we have expressed the OBP1 of both elephant species, and investigated their binding properties. We showed that OBP1 is tuned to the pheromone (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and few structurally related linear esters, but also binds (E)-β-farnesene and farnesol with good affinity. In this work we have explored the characteristics of the second OBP of the African elephant (LafrOBP2). This protein, which was not found in the trunk wash, does not bind any of the above listed semiochemicals. Instead, it shows selected affinity to unsaturated linear aldehydes of 16 carbon atoms, specifically (Z)-9-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (10E,12Z)-hexadecadienal (bombykal). Fourteen and 18 carbon orthologues show only much reduced binding affinity. Some linear alcohols, fatty acids and esters also weakly bind this protein with dissociation constants about one order of magnitude higher.
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14
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Ligand Binding Properties of Odorant-Binding Protein OBP5 from Mus musculus. BIOLOGY 2022; 12:biology12010002. [PMID: 36671695 PMCID: PMC9855133 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are abundant soluble proteins secreted in the nasal mucus of a variety of species that are believed to be involved in the transport of odorants toward olfactory receptors. In this study, we report the functional characterization of mouse OBP5 (mOBP5). mOBP5 was recombinantly expressed as a hexahistidine-tagged protein in bacteria and purified using metal affinity chromatography. The oligomeric state and secondary structure composition of mOBP5 were investigated using gel filtration and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Fluorescent experiments revealed that mOBP5 interacts with the fluorescent probe N-phenyl naphthylamine (NPN) with micromolar affinity. Competitive binding experiments with 40 odorants indicated that mOBP5 binds a restricted number of odorants with good affinity. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) confirmed that mOBP5 binds these compounds with association constants in the low micromolar range. Finally, protein homology modeling and molecular docking analysis indicated the amino acid residues of mOBP5 that determine its binding properties.
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15
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Zaremska V, Renzone G, Arena S, Ciaravolo V, Buberl A, Balfanz F, Scaloni A, Knoll W, Pelosi P. An odorant-binding protein in the elephant's trunk is finely tuned to sex pheromone (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19982. [PMID: 36411331 PMCID: PMC9678865 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24214-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical communication in elephants has been well studied at the chemical and behavioural levels. Pheromones have been identified in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), including (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and frontalin, and their specific effects on the sexual behaviour of elephants have been accurately documented. In contrast, our knowledge on the proteins mediating detection of pheromones in elephants remains poor and superficial, with only three annotated and reliable entries in sequence databases, two of them being odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), and the third a member of von Ebner's gland (VEG) proteins. Proteomic analysis of trunk wash extract from African elephant (Loxodonta africana) identified one of the OBPs (LafrOBP1) as the main component. We therefore expressed LafrOBP1 and its Asian elephant orthologue in yeast Pichia pastoris and found that both recombinant proteins, as well as the natural LafrOBP1 are tuned to (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, but have no affinity for frontalin. Both the natural and recombinant LafrOBP1 carry post-translational modifications such as O-glycosylation, phosphorylation and acetylation, but as these modifications affect only a very small amount of the protein, we cannot establish their potential effects on the ligand-binding properties of OBP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriia Zaremska
- Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz Straße, 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Giovanni Renzone
- Proteomics, Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Simona Arena
- Proteomics, Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Valentina Ciaravolo
- Proteomics, Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea Scaloni
- Proteomics, Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Knoll
- Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz Straße, 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria
- Department of Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Medicine/Dental Medicine, Danube Private University, Krems, Austria
| | - Paolo Pelosi
- Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz Straße, 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria.
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16
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Liu Z, Xie QP, Guo HW, Xu W, Wang JJ. An odorant binding protein mediates Bactrocera dorsalis olfactory sensitivity to host plant volatiles and male attractant compounds. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 219:538-544. [PMID: 35907466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.198] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are believed to play critical roles in host-seeking behavior. However, little attention was paid to its different functions in male and female. The antenna-specific OBP gene from Bactrocera dorsalis, BdorOBP13, was cloned and its expression profile was examined. The results showed that BdorOBP13 was exclusively expressed in male and female adults, which exhibited a high transcript level in antennae. After injection of BdorOBP13 dsRNA, its transcript level in males and females decreased significantly. Electrophysiological responses of RNAi-injected flies to, methyl eugenol (male attractant) and γ-octalactone (female attractant) decreased significantly. However, no significant changes in the electrophysiological response were observed in RNAi-injected flies to benzothiazole, (+),dipentene, and ethyl tiglate. The behavioral bioassay showed that males treated with RNAi significantly reduced their preference to methyl eugenol, while RNAi-injected females showed a significantly lower preference to γ-octalactone, suggesting that BdorOBP13 may have different functions between males and females: it may be involved in the detection of methyl eugenol in males but is involved in the detection of γ-octalactone in females. These findings improve our understanding of insect OBPs and their roles in insect chemosensation, which may provide us with new molecular targets in the management of B. dorsalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Liu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
| | - Qian-Ping Xie
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Huai-Wang Guo
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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17
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Villamayor PR, Gullón J, Quintela L, Sánchez-Quinteiro P, Martínez P, Robledo D. Sex separation unveils the functional plasticity of the vomeronasal organ in rabbits. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1034254. [PMID: 36340690 PMCID: PMC9634631 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1034254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory cues are vital for social and sexual behaviours and are primarily detected and processed by the vomeronasal system (VNS), whose plastic capacity has been investigated in mice. However, studying chemosensory plasticity outside of laboratory conditions may give a more realistic picture of how the VNS adapts to a changing environment. Rabbits are a well-described model of chemocommunication since the discovery of the rabbit mammary pheromone and their vomeronasal organ (VNO) transcriptome was recently characterised, a first step to further study plasticity-mediated transcriptional changes. In this study, we assessed the plastic capacity of the rabbit male and female VNO under sex-separation vs. sex-combined scenarios, including adults and juveniles, to determine whether the rabbit VNO is plastic and, if so, whether such plasticity is already established at early stages of life. First, we characterised the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the VNO of rabbit male and female under sex-separation and compared it to sex-combined individuals, both in adults and juveniles, finding that differences between male and female were larger in a sex-separated scenario. Secondly, we analysed the number of DEGs between sex-separated and sex-combined scenarios, both in males and females. In adults, both sexes showed a high number of DEGs while in juveniles only females showed differences. Additionally, the vomeronasal receptor genes were strikingly downregulated in sex-separated adult females, whereas in juveniles upregulation was shown for the same condition, suggesting a role of VRs in puberty onset. Finally, we described the environment-modulated plastic capacity of genes involved in reproduction, immunity and VNO functional activity, including G-protein coupled receptors. Our results show that sex-separation induces sex- and stage-specific gene expression differences in the VNO of male and female rabbit, both in adults and juveniles. These results bring out for the first time the plastic capacity of the rabbit VNO, supporting its functional adaptation to specifically respond to a continuous changing environment. Finally, species-specific differences and individual variability should always be considered in VNO studies and overall chemocommunication research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula R. Villamayor
- Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | | | - Luis Quintela
- Departamento de Patoloxía Animal, Facultade de Veterinaria Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Pablo Sánchez-Quinteiro
- Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Paulino Martínez
- Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Diego Robledo
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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18
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The Third Extracellular Loop of Mammalian Odorant Receptors Is Involved in Ligand Binding. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012501. [PMID: 36293357 PMCID: PMC9604345 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammals recognize chemicals in the air via G protein-coupled odorant receptors (ORs). In addition to their orthosteric binding site, other segments of these receptors modulate ligand recognition. Focusing on human hOR1A1, which is considered prototypical of class II ORs, we used a combination of molecular modeling, site-directed mutagenesis, and in vitro functional assays. We showed that the third extracellular loop of ORs (ECL3) contributes to ligand recognition and receptor activation. Indeed, site-directed mutations in ECL3 showed differential effects on the potency and efficacy of both carvones, citronellol, and 2-nonanone.
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19
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Mechin V, Asproni P, Bienboire-Frosini C, Cozzi A, Chabaud C, Arroub S, Mainau E, Nagnan-Le Meillour P, Pageat P. Inflammation interferes with chemoreception in pigs by altering the neuronal layout of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:936838. [PMID: 36172609 PMCID: PMC9510685 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.936838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical communication is widely used by animals to exchange information in their environment, through the emission and detection of semiochemicals to maintain social organization and hierarchical rules in groups. The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is one of the main detectors of these messages, and its inflammation has been linked to behavioral changes because it potentially prevents molecule detection and, consequently, the translation of the signal into action. Our previous study highlighted the link between the intensity of vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VNSE) inflammation, probably induced by farm contaminant exposure, and intraspecific aggression in pigs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cellular and molecular changes that occur during vomeronasalitis in 76 vomeronasal sensorial epithelia from 38 intensive-farmed pigs. Histology was used to evaluate the condition of each VNO and classify inflammation as healthy, weak, moderate, or strong. These data were compared to the thickness of the sensorial epithelium and the number of type 1 vomeronasal receptor cells using anti-Gαi2 protein immunohistochemistry (IHC) and analysis. The presence of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in the areas surrounding the VNO was also analyzed by IHC and compared to inflammation intensity since its role as a molecule transporter to sensory neurons has been well-established. Of the 76 samples, 13 (17%) were healthy, 31 (41%) presented with weak inflammation, and 32 (42%) presented with moderate inflammation. No severe inflammation was observed. Epithelial thickness and the number of Gαi2+ cells were inversely correlated with inflammation intensity (Kruskal–Wallis and ANOVA tests, p < 0.0001), while OBP expression in areas around the VNO was increased in inflamed VNO (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.0094), regardless of intensity. This study showed that inflammation was associated with a reduction in the thickness of the sensory epithelium and Gαi2+ cell number, suggesting that this condition can induce different degrees of neuronal loss. This finding could explain how vomeronasalitis may prevent the correct functioning of chemical communication, leading to social conflict with a potential negative impact on welfare, which is one of the most important challenges in pig farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violaine Mechin
- Tissue Biology and Chemical Communication Department, IRSEA, Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, Apt, France
- *Correspondence: Violaine Mechin
| | - Pietro Asproni
- Tissue Biology and Chemical Communication Department, IRSEA, Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, Apt, France
| | - Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Molecular Biology and Chemical Communication Department, IRSEA, Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, Apt, France
| | - Alessandro Cozzi
- Research and Education Board, IRSEA, Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, Apt, France
| | - Camille Chabaud
- Molecular Biology and Chemical Communication Department, IRSEA, Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, Apt, France
| | - Sana Arroub
- Statistics and Data Management Service, IRSEA, Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, Apt, France
| | - Eva Mainau
- Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Patrick Pageat
- Research and Education Board, IRSEA, Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, Apt, France
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20
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Janssen-Weets B, Kerff F, Swiontek K, Kler S, Czolk R, Revets D, Kuehn A, Bindslev-Jensen C, Ollert M, Hilger C. Mammalian derived lipocalin and secretoglobin respiratory allergens strongly bind ligands with potentially immune modulating properties. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 3:958711. [PMID: 35991307 PMCID: PMC9385959 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2022.958711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Allergens from furry animals frequently cause sensitization and respiratory allergic diseases. Most relevant mammalian respiratory allergens belong either to the protein family of lipocalins or secretoglobins. Their mechanism of sensitization remains largely unresolved. Mammalian lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens are associated with a function in chemical communication that involves abundant secretion into the environment, high stability and the ability to transport small volatile compounds. These properties are likely to contribute concomitantly to their allergenic potential. In this study, we aim to further elucidate the physiological function of lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens and link it to their sensitizing capacity, by analyzing their ligand-binding characteristics. We produced eight major mammalian respiratory allergens from four pet species in E.coli and compared their ligand-binding affinities to forty-nine ligands of different chemical classes by using a fluorescence-quenching assay. Furthermore, we solved the crystal-structure of the major guinea pig allergen Cav p 1, a typical lipocalin. Recombinant lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens are of high thermal stability with melting temperatures ranging from 65 to 90°C and strongly bind ligands with dissociation constants in the low micromolar range, particularly fatty acids, fatty alcohols and the terpene alcohol farnesol, that are associated with potential semiochemical and/or immune-modulating functions. Through the systematic screening of respiratory mammalian lipocalin and secretoglobin allergens with a large panel of potential ligands, we observed that total amino acid composition, as well as cavity shape and volume direct affinities to ligands of different chemical classes. Therefore, we were able to categorize lipocalin allergens over their ligand-binding profile into three sub-groups of a lipocalin clade that is associated with functions in chemical communication, thus strengthening the function of major mammalian respiratory allergens as semiochemical carriers. The promiscuous binding capability of hydrophobic ligands from environmental sources warrants further investigation regarding their impact on a molecule's allergenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bente Janssen-Weets
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense Research Center for Anaphylaxis, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Frédéric Kerff
- Laboratory of Crystallography, Center for Protein Engineering-InBioS, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Kyra Swiontek
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Stéphanie Kler
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rebecca Czolk
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Dominique Revets
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Annette Kuehn
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Carsten Bindslev-Jensen
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense Research Center for Anaphylaxis, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Markus Ollert
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense Research Center for Anaphylaxis, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christiane Hilger
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- *Correspondence: Christiane Hilger
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Wasilewski T, Brito NF, Szulczyński B, Wojciechowski M, Buda N, Melo ACA, Kamysz W, Gębicki J. Olfactory Receptor-based Biosensors as Potential Future Tools in Medical Diagnosis. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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22
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Virtanen T. Inhalant Mammal-Derived Lipocalin Allergens and the Innate Immunity. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 2:824736. [PMID: 35387007 PMCID: PMC8974866 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.824736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A major part of important mammalian respiratory allergens belongs to the lipocalin family of proteins. By this time, 19 respiratory mammalian lipocalin allergens have been registered in the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Database. Originally, lipocalins, small extracellular proteins (molecular mass ca. 20 kDa), were characterized as transport proteins but they are currently known to exert a variety of biological functions. The three-dimensional structure of lipocalins is well-preserved, and lipocalin allergens can exhibit high amino acid identities, in several cases more than 50%. Lipocalins contain an internal ligand-binding site where they can harbor small principally hydrophobic molecules. Another characteristic feature is their capacity to bind to specific cell-surface receptors. In all, the physicochemical properties of lipocalin allergens do not offer any straightforward explanations for their allergenicity. Allergic sensitization begins at epithelial barriers where diverse insults through pattern recognition receptors awaken innate immunity. This front-line response is manifested by epithelial barrier-associated cytokines which together with other components of immunity can initiate the sensitization process. In the following, the crucial factor in allergic sensitization is interleukin (IL)-4 which is needed for stabilizing and promoting the type 2 immune response. The source for IL-4 has been searched widely. Candidates for it may be non-professional antigen-presenting cells, such as basophils or mast cells, as well as CD4+ T cells. The synthesis of IL-4 by CD4+ T cells requires T cell receptor engagement, i.e., the recognition of allergen peptides, which also provides the specificity for sensitization. Lipocalin and innate immunity-associated cell-surface receptors are implicated in facilitating the access of lipocalin allergens into the immune system. However, the significance of this for allergic sensitization is unclear, as the recognition by these receptors has been found to produce conflicting results. As to potential adjuvants associated with mammalian lipocalin allergens, the hydrophobic ligands transported by lipocalins have not been reported to enhance sensitization while it is justified to suppose that lipopolysaccharide plays a role in it. Taken together, type 2 immunity to lipocalin allergens appears to be a harmful immune response resulting from a combination of signals involving both the innate and adaptive immunities.
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Zaremska V, Fischer IM, Renzone G, Arena S, Scaloni A, Knoll W, Pelosi P. Reverse Chemical Ecology Suggests Putative Primate Pheromones. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msab338. [PMID: 34897488 PMCID: PMC8789041 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pheromonal communication is widespread among living organisms, but in apes and particularly in humans there is currently no strong evidence for such phenomenon. Among primates, lemurs use pheromones to communicate within members of the same species, whereas in some monkeys such capabilities seem to be lost. Chemical communication in humans appears to be impaired by the lack or malfunctioning of biochemical tools and anatomical structures mediating detection of pheromones. Here, we report on a pheromone-carrier protein (SAL) adopting a "reverse chemical ecology" approach to get insights on the structures of potential pheromones in a representative species of lemurs (Microcebus murinus) known to use pheromones, Old-World monkeys (Cercocebus atys) for which chemical communication has been observed, and humans (Homo sapiens), where pheromones and chemical communication are still questioned. We have expressed the SAL orthologous proteins of these primate species, after reconstructing the gene encoding the human SAL, which is disrupted due to a single base mutation preventing its translation into RNA. Ligand-binding experiments with the recombinant SALs revealed macrocyclic ketones and lactones as the best ligands for all three proteins, suggesting cyclopentadecanone, pentadecanolide, and closely related compounds as the best candidates for potential pheromones. Such hypothesis agrees with the presence of a chemical very similar to hexadecanolide in the gland secretions of Mandrillus sphinx, a species closely related to C. atys. Our results indicate that the function of this carrier protein has not changed much during evolution from lemurs to humans, although its physiological role has been certainly impaired in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriia Zaremska
- Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Tulln, Austria
| | | | - Giovanni Renzone
- Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, Napoli, Italy
| | - Simona Arena
- Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Scaloni
- Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, Napoli, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Knoll
- Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Tulln, Austria
- Department of Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Medicine/Dental Medicine, Danube Private University, Krems, Austria
| | - Paolo Pelosi
- Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Tulln, Austria
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