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- Title
A Recombinant Courtship Pheromone Affects Sexual Receptivity in a Plethodontid Salamander.
- Authors
Houck, Lynne D.; Watts, Richard A.; Arnold, Stevan J.; Bowen, Kathleen E.; Kiemnec, Karen M.; Godwin, Hilary A.; Feldhoff, Pamela W.; Feldhoff, Richard C.
- Abstract
Pheromones are important chemical signals for many vertebrates, particularly during reproductive interactions. In the terrestrial salamander Plethodon shermani, a male delivers proteinaceous pheromones to the female as part of their ritualistic courtship behavior. These pheromones increase the female's receptivity to mating, as shown by a reduction in courtship duration. One pheromone component in particular is plethodontid receptivity factor (PRF), a 22-kDa protein with multiple isoforms. This protein alone can act as a courtship pheromone that causes the female to be more receptive. We used a bacterial expression system to synthesize a single recombinant isoform of PRF. The recombinant protein was identical to the native PRF, based on mass spectrometry, circular dichroism spectra, and a behavioral bioassay that tested the effects of recombinant PRF (rPRF) on female receptivity (21% reduction in courtship duration). The rPRF appears to mimic the activity of a mixture of PRF isoforms, as well as a mixture of multiple different proteins that comprise the male courtship gland extract. Pheromones that are peptides have been characterized for some vertebrates; to date, however, rPRF is one of only 2 synthesized vertebrate proteins to retain full biological activity.
- Subjects
SALAMANDERS; PHEROMONES; LUNGLESS salamanders; BIOLOGICAL assay; ANIMAL courtship
- Publication
Chemical Senses, 2008, Vol 33, Issue 7, p623
- ISSN
0379-864X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/chemse/bjn027